Akram, a classy playmaker, destroyed Graham Arnold’s Socceroos at the 2007 Asian Cup helping Iraq to a 3-1 group stage win over the green and gold.

The one-time AFC Asian Player of the Year moved from his Qatari club Al Gharafa last year for a short stint with Dutch outfit  Twente.

However the 26-year-old parted company with the Dutch side after ten games at the beginning of this season. The Iraqi has been club-less since.

Abbas believes Akram is now close to signing with a Qatari club but holds out hope his Iraqi national teammate will follow in his footsteps and play A-League football.

“He would be a big player for the A-League. I don’t think he has a contract at the moment but they are talking to him about [it] in Qatar now,” Abbas told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“The club [Jets] asked me about him [Akram] and I think they want him for just ten games and they find another player, [Francis] Jeffers.

“I spoke with him {Akram] about two months ago and he asked me about Australia and I tell him it’s a great life here and everything’s going good here.

 “I will call him if he like to come here. He’s a really good player. Hopefully next season, maybe we can organize something for him in the A-League.”

Akram, along with Younis Mahmoud and perhaps even Abbas, Iraq are set to defend their Asian Cup trophy in Qatar this January.