Pakistan: Wahab Riaz retires from Test cricket

Days after Mohammad Amir retired from Test cricket, another Pakistan pacer, Wahab Riaz has said goodbye to the longer format of the game.

Wahab Riaz informed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani about his decision, and will make a formal announcement after coming back to Pakistan as he is currently participating in a T20 league in Canada.

Wahab Riaz picked up 83 wickets in 27 matches in his ten-year Test career. Let it be known that 27-year-old Mohammad Amir had earlier announced retirement from Test cricket, and was criticized by former pacer Shoaib Akhtar.

Shoaib Akhtar had said that it was time for Amir to pay back Pakistan after spot-fixing ban.

Former captain Wasim Akram was also surprised over Mohammad Amir’s decision. “To me Mohammad Amir retiring from Test cricket is a bit surprising because you peak at 27-28 and Test cricket is where you are judged against the best, it’s the ultimate format. Pakistan will need him in two Tests in Australia and then three in England,” Wasim Akram said.

Earlier, Shoaib Akhtar asked, “What I find as troubling news is that perhaps Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, and Junaid Khan will follow suit and take retirement. What is happening with the Pakistan team?”

Shoaib Akhtar also claimed the young breed of Pakistani fast-bowlers – Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir only wanted to play Twenty20 cricket, and did not even want to play one-day internationals.