16 August 2023, Mumbai: Veteran Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz has announced his retirement from international cricket in order to focus more on franchise-based tournaments. Notably, the 38-year-old represented the national team in 27 Test matches, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is and has picked up a total of 237 wickets in international cricket. Honour to Represent Pakistan Speaking about his decision to retire, Riaz stated that it was an honour for him to represent Pakistan for such a long time and is now ready to start a new chapter in franchise cricket, where he wants to entertain and inspire the spectators.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent Pakistan on the international stage. As I bid farewell to this chapter, I am thrilled to embark on a new adventure in franchise cricket, where I hope to entertain and inspire audiences while competing against some of the best talents in the world,” Riaz said in a press release.
Potential of Pakistan’s young cricketing talent.
The press release also read that the decision has been made after Riaz’s unwavering belief in the potential of Pakistan’s young cricketing talent. Notably, the left-arm pacer made his international debut against Zimbabwe in 2008. He was sensational on his debut, picking up two wickets and giving away only 19 runs in his eight overs. On the other hand, he made his Test debut two years later, against England at The Oval. The pacer was once again brilliant, picking up an excellent five-for in the first innings and one in the second innings as the visiting team managed to win the match by four wickets.
Last Match in 2020
Meanwhile, Riaz has not been part of Pakistan’s scheme of things for a long time now as the cricketer played his last international match in 2020 against New Zealand. He has played a lot of cricket in franchise tournaments in the meantime, including PSL, where he is the lead bowler of Peshawar Zalmi. He also features in Bangladesh Premier League and even played the last edition of the Lanka Premier League
International Career.
His international career continued for another couple of years and with some highlights: a second Test five-for in Sharjah, a four-wicket haul in Brisbane (in an otherwise disastrous series for Pakistan’s bowlers, he stood out in Australia) and another short, sharp burst against Sri Lanka in Dubai in what was, eventually, his penultimate Test. He took four wickets in nine overs to help skittle Sri Lanka for 96 and bring Pakistan back into the game, but an equal highlight from the Test was him losing his run-up entirely and aborting his approach five consecutive times in one over in the first innings.
Solid T20 Career
He has since forged a solid T20 career, most notably with Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL. He ended with 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 83 Test wickets at an average of 34.50, 120 in ODIs at 34.30 and 34 T20I wickets at 28.55, numbers which do not capture the impact he was often capable of making.
By ASC Priya