Former Pakistan men’s cricket team head coach Mickey Arthur has expressed strong confidence in veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, predicting a standout year for him in 2026.
Arthur made the remarks while responding to a social media post by a local news outlet that praised Mohammad Abbas for finishing the outgoing year as the only bowler to claim 100 wickets in first-class cricket.
Reacting to the milestone, Arthur said that Abbas is set for an even better year ahead. “2026 (Mohammad Abbas) is going to go bigger,” Arthur wrote while retweeting the post.
Abbas is set to reunite with Arthur after signing a two-year deal with Derbyshire County Cricket Club earlier this month.
The contract will see him represent the club in the County Championship Division Two during the 2026 and 2027 seasons, with the tournament scheduled to run from April 3 to September 24.
The 35-year-old pacer has represented Pakistan in 27 Test matches since making his red-ball international debut in 2017. He has established himself as one of the most sought-after overseas players in England’s first-class cricket, taking 291 wickets at an impressive average of 19.89.
Mohammad Abbas has previously played for Hampshire and Leicestershire in the County Championship. His most recent spell was with Nottinghamshire, where he helped the side win the Division One title earlier this year.
Despite receiving offers from several Division One counties, Abbas opted to move to Division Two with Derbyshire.
Derbyshire’s Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, described Abbas’s signing as a major statement for the club and expressed his delight at securing his services.
“This is a statement signing for us, we’ve beaten several Division One counties to sign one of the finest red ball bowlers around, and we’re absolutely delighted to have Mohammad on board for 2026 and 2027,” Arthur was quoted as saying.
Arthur also highlighted Abbas’s impact with the ball and the value of his experience to the squad, saying his expertise will be a major asset for our young players to learn from.
