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Cricket

“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent Pakistan,” says Wahab Riaz on retirement

Wahab Riaz, Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler, announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday but would continue to play franchise cricket. Wahab hasn’t participated in an international match for Pakistan in well than two years; his most recent appearances were a few white-ball matches towards the end of 2020.

“I have been speaking about my retirement plans past two years, that 2023 is my target to retire from International cricket, and I feel comfortable now more than ever that I have served my country and National team to the best I could have,” Wahab Riaz explained in a statement after his international retirement on Wednesday.

“It has been an honor 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,” he concluded.

Wahab made his international debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2008, but he had to wait more than two years before making his Test debut, which he did in 2010 against England at The Oval, taking 5-63 and being the ninth Pakistani bowler to do so. While he amassed 83 wickets in 27 Tests, 120 in 91 ODIs, and 34 in 36 T20 internationals, he hasn’t been chosen for his nation’s team since competing in a T20I match against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2020.

Wahab, who was a member of Pakistan’s World Cup squads in 2011, 2015, and 2019, announced his intention to play until the 2023 tournament before retiring. However, with his last international match taking place in December 2020, it was clear that Pakistan had moved on from Wahab, whose matchup with Shane Watson at the 2015 World Cup is still considered to be one of the fiercest ever. He just entered politics, taking up the position of interim sports minister for the Punjab state in January of this year.

Since then, he has built a strong T20 career, particularly with Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL. His final stats for Pakistan were 27 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 36 T20Is. He took 83 Test wickets at an average of 34.50, 120 ODI wickets at 34.30, and 34 T20I wickets at 28.55, which do not accurately reflect the effect he was frequently capable of having.

 

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