A Tribute to Mohammed Abbas

It came as a shock to many at the club to hear of the recent passing of Mohammed Abbas while visiting Pakistan with his son Faizaan.

Abbas was a popular figure at Horspath, often seen with his children in the nets or patrolling the boundary enthusiastically watching the action and commenting on just how good the cricket was before him. He spent many hours at the club, particularly “side-arming” to Faizaan and so was really proud to see their joint efforts pay off as Faizaan graduated from the youth teams to the men’s set up with ease.

Part of Abbas’s popularity was due to his generosity in practice and spirit. Not only was he always offering lifts to teammates, he could be regularly heard praising the different players, many of whom he’d seen mature into adult team members, contributing at all levels. “Such a good, good player”; “he’s a quality batsman that one!”, “he’s quick, quick isn’t he?” were all observed along with his trademark smile. Abbas loved cricket and was keen to share his enthusiasm (and predictions) as he watched the game with such positivity and genuine excitement.

Even after Faizaan departed the club to try his fortunes at local rivals, Oxford, Abbas could regularly beseen at Horspath supporting and cheering on other members of his family and the friends he had made. Abbas’s wife and daughter, Jamila and Saba are both founding members of the recently formed Horspath women’s cricket team and Abbas was delighted to see them take up the game he loved. Faizaan obviously inherited his father’s passion for and generosity around the game by providing invaluable coaching and advice to the new ladies’ team. Faizaan’s brothers, Danyal and Sulaiman could often be seen with their dad too, either in youth team games (Abbas was at every u11s match cheering on the whole team), practising in the nets or wandering around one of the two pitches working out where the action was. Abbas even tried out his hand at umpiring but it’s fair to say he ultimately ended up preferring to spectate and chat about the game perambulating the rope with a friend.

Abbas may not be seen again at the recreation ground but his warmth, his charming smile and his enthusiasm for the game of cricket will never be forgotten.