{
  "id": 18685887,
  "title": "Abbas eyes maiden five-wicket haul on home soil as Pakistan prepare for Sri Lanka Tests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/abbas-eyes-maiden-five-wicket-haul-on-home-soil-as-pakistan-prepare",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T09:46:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2042821/abbas-eyes-maiden-five-wicket-haul-on-home-soil-as-pakistan-prepare-for-sri-lanka-tests"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Veteran Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Abbas is aiming for a historic five-wicket haul on home soil as Pakistan prepares for their upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Speaking ahead of practice at the Islamabad Club, Abbas expressed satisfaction with his current form and vowed to maintain consistency, stating that he intends to achieve his goal of a five-wicket haul during the series. With more than 110 wickets in his Test career at a low average, Abbas has several five-wicket hauls to his name. However, he has never achieved this milestone on Pakistani soil, with his best home return standing at four wickets. Abbas credits his consistency to regular exposure to red-ball cricket, including regional and departmental competitions and stints in English county cricket. He emphasized the importance of participating in longer-format matches for his Test performances. Pakistan's preparations are progressing well, with the opening Test scheduled for November 9-13 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, followed by the second Test at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium from November 17-21. The series will be part of the World Test Championship cycle, in which Pakistan currently holds the bottom position, while Sri Lanka are seventh. Abbas welcomed the inclusion of young players in the squad, praising their potential to demonstrate skills and secure their place for the future. He expressed particular admiration for Razaullah, who made an impact during his debut against England, and urged the team to assess conditions quickly and adapt their strategies accordingly. Despite the absence of a five-wicket haul on home soil, Abbas remains confident and optimistic about Pakistan's chances in the upcoming series.",
  "summary": "Veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas is targeting a maiden five-wicket haul on home soil as Pakistan prepare for their two-Test series against Sri Lanka , hoping to add a missing milestone to an otherwise impressive Test career. Speaking on the sidelines of the team’s practice session at the Islamabad Club on Saturday, Abbas expressed satisfaction with his current form and vowed to maintain his…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}