From welder to cricket hero: How Mohammad Abbas became so important in England that even Pep Guardiola could not have his hotel room

Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola once desired Mohammad Abbas’ hotel room in England during a match between Manchester City and Southampton. However, Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas was already staying at the Hilton overlooking Hampshire’s cricket ground, and Hampshire refused to move their fast bowler. ESPNcricinfo has verified this story with two additional sources, and Abbas himself has confirmed the incident, highlighting the strong bond he has built with English cricket.

Now 36, Abbas has had an impressive career, starting from working various jobs before becoming a professional cricketer at the age of 27. He has taken 131 Test wickets from 33 matches at an average of 22.68, surpassing the averages of cricket legends like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis. Abbas recently achieved another milestone by taking his 900th first-class wicket at Lord’s.

Despite England's overall poor performance in the series, losing 3-0, Abbas played a crucial role with his exceptional bowling. At Lord’s, he took 4 for 73 and 5 for 57 in the first and second innings, respectively, becoming the ninth player in history to have his name on the Lord’s honors board. His series performance earned him the title of Player of the Series alongside England's Ollie Robinson.

Abbas' final performance in the series included a career-best 42 runs and a hat-trick, removing Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay in quick succession. Although there is uncertainty about his future in Test cricket for England, Abbas' remarkable journey from a welder to a Pakistani fast bowler has made a significant impact in English cricket.