Pakistan Fast Bowler Wahab Riaz Bids Farewell to International Cricket

Renowned Pakistani fast bowler Wahab Riaz has announced his retirement from international cricket while expressing his intent to continue participating in franchise cricket. The 38-year-old, recognized for his left-arm fast bowling, made his debut for Pakistan in 2008 and went on to make significant contributions throughout his career.

Riaz's international journey was highlighted by his impressive performances, with one of his notable achievements being taking 5 wickets for 63 runs in his debut Test match against England in 2010. He collected a total of 83 wickets in 27 Test matches, 120 wickets in 91 ODIs, and 34 wickets in 36 T20s.

Wahab Riaz during a press conference in Lahore, Pakistan (AP/K.M. Chaudary)

Despite his valuable contributions, Riaz hadn't participated in international games since a T20 match against New Zealand in 2020. He expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board, his family, coaches, mentors, teammates, and fans for their support.

While stepping away from international cricket, Riaz will remain active in T20 franchise cricket. Serving as the sports minister in the Punjab province's caretaker government, Riaz shared that he had targeted 2023 as the year for his international retirement. He expressed contentment with his contributions to the national team and his country.

SportsLigue