Zaheer Abbas is one of the greatest Asian batters in cricket history and certainly the greatest Pakistani batter of all time. He has made over 100 First Class Hundreds. He has played both Test Cricket and ODIs for Pakistan. He has played 78 Test Matches and has scored 5062 runs at an average of 44.62. He has scored 4 Test Double Hundreds and 12 Test Centuries. He also played 62 ODIs for Pakistan and he made 2572 runs at an average of 47.83. He scored 7 ODI Hundreds in his career.
Let’s look at the Top 5 Best Batting Performances of Zaheer Abbas
1) 274 vs England (1971)
This was only his second test match and he played the greatest innings of his life. The cricketing world stopped and took notice of this extraordinary talent as he destroyed the English bowling attack. He faced 468 balls in this innings and he hit 38 fours all around the ground meaning 152 runs in boundaries. He ran for his other 122 runs and he had a strike rate of 59. This was an innings which established him as one of the best batters in the world. This was the record for the highest score in the second test match.
2) 240 vs England (1974)
It looked like Zaheer Abbas had an affinity for England as he scored his second test double hundred against them 3 years after he made his first. This was the time where he was established as one of the best. This innings was sublime as he played 422 balls and he has a strike rate of 58. He hit just 22 fours in this innings meaning 88 runs in boundaries. He ran for 134 runs in this innings and he showed that he was supremely fit. Pakistan had their talisman and the match was a draw.
3) 235* vs India (1978)
This was his third test double hundred and it was against arch rivals India in 1978. This innings ensured that he was one of the Top 3 Best Batters in the world. Zaheer Abbas was 7 years in his test career and this was an innings where he played 456 balls. He had a strike rate of 53 and he hit 28 fours in this innings meaning 112 runs in boundaries. This was a match where Pakistan dominated and due to this innings by him, Pakistan won the match by 8 Wickets.
4) 215 vs India (1982)
This was his second double hundred against India and he came very close a few other times as well after this. This was a very different innings from Zaheer Abbas as he was attacking all the way through. He made 215 in just 254 balls at a strike rate of 86. He smashed 23 fours and 2 sixes in this innings meaning 104 runs in boundaries. He ran for 111 of his runs and still he maintained a strike rate of 86, which is truly amazing. He loved batting against India in test cricket.
5) 109 vs Australia (1982)
This was one of his best ODI innings and It was against the best team in the world at that time. He absolutely decimated the great Australia bowling to all parts. He hit 109 runs from just 92 balls with a strike rate of 114. He hit 12 fours and 2 sixes in this innings meaning 60 runs in boundaries. Pakistan won this match by 28 runs and Zaheer Abbas was the hero. He proved that he was equally great in Test Cricket and ODI Cricket.
Also Read: Who is the best fast bowler of Pakistan
