Veteran Pakistani bowler Wahab Riaz has declared his retirement from international cricket in order to concentrate more on franchise-based competitions. Notably, the 38-year-old has played for his country in 27 Test matches, 91 ODIs, and 36 T20Is and has taken 237 wickets overall in international cricket.
Speaking on his decision to retire, Wahab Riaz said that it had been an honor for him to play for Pakistan for so long.
He is now prepared to begin a new era in franchise cricket, where he hopes to inspire and amuse the crowd.
“Representing Pakistan on the world stage has been a privilege and an honor. As I say goodbye to this chapter, I’m excited to start a new journey in franchise cricket. There, I hope to inspire and amuse spectators while facing off against some of the top players in the globe, Wahab Riaz stated in a press release.
🏏 Stepping off the international pitch
🌟 After an incredible journey, I’ve decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me. 🙏
Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise…
— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) August 16, 2023
The press statement stated that Wahab Riaz unflinching faith in the future of Pakistan’s youthful cricket talent led to the decision. Notably, the left-arm pacer’s 2008 match against Zimbabwe marked his international debut. He had an outstanding debut, taking two wickets and allowing just 19 runs to be scored in his eight overs. On the other hand, he made his Test debut at The Oval against England two years later. The pacer was outstanding once more, taking an outstanding five wickets in the first innings and one in the second, helping the visiting team win the game by four wickets.
Since the cricketer’s final international encounter against New Zealand in 2020, Riaz has been absent from Pakistan’s plans for a considerable amount of time. In the interim, he participated in numerous franchise events, such as the PSL, where he represents Peshawar Zalmi as the primary bowler. Additionally, he competes in the Lanka Premier League and the Bangladesh Premier League.
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