Biography and Early Life
Zainab Abbas (زینب عباس), born on 14 February 1988 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, is a noted sports anchor, cricket commentator, television host, and former makeup artist.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zainab Abbas |
| Native Name | زینب عباس |
| Date of Birth | 14 February 1988 |
| Birthplace | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Occupations | Sports anchor, presenter, commentator, former makeup artist |
| Education | Bachelor’s (Aston University); MBA in Marketing & Strategy (University of Warwick) |
| Parents | Nasir Abbas (father), Andleeb Abbas (mother) |
| Siblings | Younger brother (Hussain Abbas Mirza) |
| Marital Status | Married to Hamza Kardar (Nov 2019) |
Family Background
- Father: Nasir Abbas, former domestic cricketer representing Faisalabad and Hafizabad, bowler by trade.
- Mother: Andleeb Abbas, prominent politician with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf; used reserved seat and served as Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs. She also briefly worked as a cricket journalist during the 1999 World Cup.
- Husband: Hamza Kardar, son of Shahid Hafeez Kardar (former finance minister and State Bank governor) and grandson of Abdul Hafeez Kardar (Pakistan cricket’s first captain).
- Brother: Hussain Abbas Mirza, fitness coach; joined Multan Sultans as strength & conditioning specialist for PSL in Feb 2023.
Education & Early Career
Formal Education
- Earned her bachelor’s degree at Aston University in the UK, followed by an MBA from the University of Warwick, focusing on Marketing & Strategy.
Pre-broadcasting Career
- Spent approximately two years working at Harrods for Dolce & Gabbana as a makeup artist before transitioning to sports media in 2015.
Broadcasting & Journalism Career
Zainab’s rise in sports broadcasting spans multiple platforms, events, and networks, detailed below:
| Year(s) | Role / Event | Network/Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Guest appearance on pre-match show during Cricket World Cup | Dunya News |
| 2016 | Correspondent covering Pakistan’s England tour; guest on BBC Test Match Special | Dunya News; BBC |
| 2016–2018 | Host of Cricket Dewangi | Dunya News |
| 2016–present | Presenter for Pakistan Super League (PSL) | PSL TV |
| 2018 | Host of web talk show Sawal Cricket Ka (7 episodes) | Online series |
| 2018–2019 | Host of Voice of Cricket (14 episodes) | Cricingif |
| May 2019 | First female commentator from Pakistan at ICC World Cup | ICC World Cup 2019 |
| Jul 2021 | Sky Sports debut for inaugural season of The Hundred | Sky Sports |
| Multiple years | Roles with TEN Sports, Star Sports, Sony, SuperSport, Abu Dhabi T10 | Various international platforms |
High-Profile Coverage
- 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup: Became the first female Pakistani sports commentator to cover a major ICC tournament.
- 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup (India): Covered from India; later left citing personal reasons amid resurfaced social media controversy.
Recognition & Awards
| Year | Award / Recognition |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Sports TV Host of the Year – Pakistan Sports Awards |
| Jul 2020 | Listed among “100 Most Influential People” across Asia/UK/EU by New York Press Agency |
| Oct 2020 | Speaker at TEDxLahoreWomen |
In addition, she is widely acknowledged as a trailblazer for women in Pakistani sports media.
Public Profile & Social Media
- Instagram: @zabbasofficial, ~940K followers
- X (formerly Twitter): @ZAbbasOfficial
- Facebook: ~620K page likes
She is credited as presenter for global cricket events under ICC, PCB, Sky Sports, Star Sports, SuperSport, Sony, TEN Sports, Dunya News, Cricingif, PSL, and T10 broadcasts.
Controversy & Response
- In October 2023, during coverage of the Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, Zainab exited the country early.
- The departure stemmed from resurfaced old anti-India/Hindu tweets.
- She later apologized, clarifying they didn’t represent her current values, and cited personal reasons for leaving.
- The ICC confirmed her exit was not related to visa or broadcasting clearance issues.
Chronological Career Timeline
- 2015: Entered sports media via guest panel appearance on Dunya News during Cricket World Cup.
- 2016: Coverage in England; BBC guest spot; launch of Cricket Dewangi.
- 2016–present: Hostess for PSL events.
- 2017: Hosted Sawal Cricket Ka online.
- 2018–2019: Hosted Voice of Cricket.
- 2019: Made history at ICC World Cup; won prestigious TV hosting award; married.
- 2020: Awarded recognition; gave TEDx talk.
- 2021: Sky Sports debut at The Hundred.
- 2023: Controversial exit from India; brother joins PSL.
Professional Reach & Influence
- Recognized across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
- Fluent English and Urdu delivery; blends analytical commentary with engaging hosting style.
- One of the few female Pakistani voices on international cricket platforms like Sky Sports and ICC.
Personal Milestones Table
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 14 Feb 1988 | Born in Lahore |
| 2015 | Shifted from makeup artistry to cricket broadcasting |
| Nov 2019 | Married Hamza Kardar in Lahore |
| Feb 2023 | Brother Hussain Abbas Mirza hired by PSL franchise |
| Oct 2023 | Left India early during World Cup under controversy |
FAQ
What is sports anchor Zainab Abbass’s full name?
Her full name is Zainab Abbas.
When and where was Zainab Abbas born?
She was born on 14 February 1988 in Lahore, Pakistan.
What are her academic qualifications?
She holds a Bachelor’s degree and an MBA in Marketing & Strategy from UK universities.
Who are Zainab Abbas’s parents?
Her father is ex-cricketer Nasir Abbas, and her mother is politician Andleeb Abbas.
Has she received any awards?
Yes, she won Sports TV Host of the Year in 2019 at the Pakistan Sports Awards.
Is Zainab married?
Yes, she married Hamza Kardar in November 2019.
What notable tournaments has she covered?
She covered the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and debuted on Sky Sports for The Hundred in 2021.
Did she face any controversy?
Yes, old tweets resurfaced in October 2023, causing her early exit from the ICC World Cup in India.
What languages does she speak?
She speaks English and Urdu fluently.
Is she active on social media?
Yes, she’s active on Instagram, X, and Facebook, with large followings.
