Qaisar Abbas earns Test cap

Qaisar Abbas's 12th first-class match made him the 162nd Pakistani to earn a Test cap for the country when he stepped in the field for the first Test against England in Lahore on Wednesday.

The teenager from Muridke, born on May 5, 1982, didn't have a day to remember when he dropped Graham Thorpe off Saqlain Mushtaq. But the talent and potential the boy has certainly reflects the brighter side.

Qaisar was an unknown rookie until two weeks back when he attracted the selectors with his excellent performance against England at Rawalpindi. The left-hander was earlier criticized for his selection in the Sri Lanka-bound Pakistan team.

Many thought the Test was his second first-class match. But actually, Qaisar made his first-class debut last season when he represented Pakistan Reserves in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.

Qaisar played in six first-class matches scoring 447 runs at 55.87 with a century and three half centuries - a brilliant performance by all means.

This season, Qaisar has played in four first-class matches scoring three half centuries. While playing for Sheikhupura, he scored 46 and 3 against Sargodha; a career-best 84 and 14 against Peshawar; and 67 and 1 against Gujranwala. Versus England, he scored 71 and 44.

Qaisar, a modest and shy boy said: "I feel out of this world. Playing for the country is everyone's dream. Millions of youngsters sweat in the sun with just one ambition - play in the Pakistan team. But I am the luckiest one to get this opportunity.

The youngster revealed that Sarfaraz Azeem, a former first-class HBFC cricketer, has been the greatest influence in his career.

The top notches of the Pakistan team earlier gave a pat on the back of the youngster.

"He is in the team because he is good. He is one of the future prospects. I wish him all the best in his career," Pakistan coach Javed Miandad said.