India, March 29 -- If you are Muhammad Abbas, chances are your world has changed in the last week or so, especially since getting a call from New Zealand head coach Gary Stead, informing him about his selection in the BlackCaps ODI squad. Things peaked when Abbas got his ODI cap in Napier on Saturday, that too against Pakistan, the country of his birth. The Lahore-borne all-rounder celebrated the occasion with a world record.

Abbas ignited the end of the New Zealand innings at McLean Park with his 52, setting a world record for the fastest half-century on debut when he reached 50 off the 24th ball he faced. Abbas broke the record of India all-rounder Krunal who had smashed a 26-ball fifty on his ODI debut.

Son of Azhar Abbas, who has pl...