Mumbai: In a development that could stir fresh excitement in the Indian Premier League, Pakistani-origin pace bowler Muhammad Abbas has been officially included in the player list for the IPL 2026 mega auction, sources confirmed on Monday.
The 24-year-old right-arm quick, born in Lahore and known for consistently touching 150 kmph, shifted base to the United Kingdom in 2023. Playing county cricket for Nottinghamshire, Abbas has impressed with his raw speed, sharp bounce and ability to swing the new ball both ways. He holds a British passport now, which clears the eligibility hurdle for IPL participation.
Though he has not yet represented Pakistan at the senior international level, Abbas has been a standout performer in domestic circuits and emerged as one of the fastest bowlers in county cricket this season. His inclusion marks a rare instance of a player with Pakistani roots entering the IPL pool since the unofficial ban on Pakistani cricketers post the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Franchise scouts are already buzzing: a genuine 150-kph bowler with overseas status is a prized asset in T20 cricket. Abbas is expected to be placed in the ₹50-lakh base price bracket, but intense bidding is anticipated given the scarcity of high-velocity pacers.
While geopolitical tensions have kept direct India-Pakistan cricketing ties frozen, the IPL’s global talent hunt continues to find creative pathways. If a franchise bags him, Abbas could become the first player of Pakistani descent to don an IPL jersey in nearly two decades.
The cricketing world waits with bated breath: will the fastest Pakistani-born bowler finally light up the IPL night sky?