Wahab Riaz becomes first Pakistani to take 400 wickets in T20 cricket

• Wahab Riaz is first player from Pakistan to record 400 wickets in T20 cricket.
• He has featured in 335 matches and has taken 401 wickets at an average of 22.25.
• The left-armer plays for Khulna Tigers in the BPL.

Wahab Riaz, a pacer, is the first player from Pakistan to record 400 wickets in T20 competition.

While for Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the left-armer accomplished the feat. After Dwayne Bravo, Riaz is the second pacer to reach 400 wickets in T20 cricket overall. Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, Imran Tahir, and Shakib Al Hassan are the other bowlers with more than 400 wickets in T20 cricket.

In the match against Chattogram Challengers on Friday, Riaz claimed figures of 4-36 in four overs to go past the 400-wicket mark.

The 37-year-old has featured in 335 matches and has taken 401 wickets at an average of 22.25 and economy rate of 7.48. He has thrice taken a five-wicket haul with best figures of 5-8.

Riaz has also played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is over the course of his international career with more than 200 wickets.

The speedster made his international debut in 2008 but has been out of the national side since 2020. With 11 wickets in five games, Riaz now holds the BPL record for most wickets taken. Riaz had previously declared his intention to stop playing international cricket following the 2023 World Cup in India.

“Everyone has to say goodbye to cricket one day. But my target is to carry on playing until the 2023 World Cup, that is, if I remain fully fit and my passion for the game remains strong as well. Obviously, if I am performing I will carry on,” Wahab said.

The bowler claimed that because he is doing well and playing in several competitions, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he has decided to continue playing international cricket beyond 2023.

According to Riaz, as long as a person stays active and contributes to their team, age is irrelevant.

“Fitness levels, diet and all these things have improved a lot in modern-day cricket so times have changed,” he said.

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