Derbyshire head coach Mickey Arthur says that Pakistan 'need their heads checking' if they don't select Mohammad Abbas for this summer's series in England.
Abbas has signed a two-year contract with Derbyshire and will lead the county's promotion push this summer.
The 36-year-old last played for Pakistan against South Africa in January 2025 after a three-year hiatus from international cricket.
He remains a force in county cricket and a good start to the season in the East Midlands could see him back in Pakistan's plans for the three-match Test series against England which starts in August.
"I'm very excited, he's a great addition for us and he's a strong personality," said Arthur.
"If Pakistan don't call him up then I think they need their heads checked, he's such a good performer.
"We've got him for two years. I was working with him for his debut in 2017 and with the pace he’s bowling at and the lines and lengths that he’s hitting, he looks exactly the same.
"I think the one thing about him is that his good and his bad is very close and its really nice to have a guy that leads the attack like that.
"His worst spell will go at 2.8 runs and his best spell he’ll get three for not many. To have him in our environment is fantastic.
"If we had Shoaib Bashir and Mohammed Abbas last year I think we would have won the division."
Abbas has played 27 Tests for Pakistan and he has taken 100 wickets at an impressive bowling average of 23.18.
Whilst his call up at the start of 2025 was a short-lived return, he does have plenty of experience in county cricket and English conditions.
Pakistan will fancy their chances of upsetting an England team in transition this summer and Abbas could yet form part of their plans.
