Wahab Riaz has been included in Pakistan’s combined squad selected for Test matches & T20I series to be held in England.
Before Pakistan’s England Tour, pacer Wahab Riaz on Monday said that he is ready to play in the test match “if required” in the English conditions. He has been named in the 29 players combined squad selected for a series of three Tests & T20Is to be held in England starting from July 30.
“I am very excited to be a part of this England tour. As you know this tour is being carried on in very unusual circumstances. I was called by the PCB to enquire if I am available to play Test cricket if required on a replacement basis. I straight away said yes because my priority ultimately is to play for Pakistan,” Wahab said in a video conference.
The 34-year-old fast bowler has been a part of the National Team since 2008 but his form is not so consistent in the Pakistan team. His selection had often been based on his ability to be able to generate reverse swing at a high pace.
“Between 2016 and 2019, I played in patches, but even after I performed against Sri Lanka, I wasn’t the part of the next tour. I was called up to play against Australia midway, I was sent back by the then-management. That made me think I wasn’t up to a high enough standard to play Test cricket,” Riaz said.
But that was way before Misbah and Waqar were brought in at the helm. So I had made a decision speaking with the PCB higher management that I haven’t been playing ample Test cricket for a while and I voluntarily distanced myself from this format and decided to concentrate on white-ball cricket,” Wahab Riaz added.
The pacer has played almost 27 test matches, 89 ODIs & 31 T20Is & grabbed 228 wickets across all formats of the game.
