Pakistani quick bowler Wahab Riaz has announced his retirement from international cricket. He will continue to play for franchises all across the world.
The 38-year-old left-armer represented his country in three ODI World Cups (2011, 2015, and 2019) and finished his career with 237 international wickets in 27 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 36 T20Is. He last played for Pakistan in December 2020.
“Representing Pakistan on the international stage has been an honor and a privilege.” “As I say goodbye to this chapter, I am excited to embark on a new adventure in franchise cricket, where I hope to entertain and inspire audiences while competing against some of the world’s best talents,” Wahab stated in a press release.
Wahab made his Pakistan debut in a One-Day International against Zimbabwe in February 2008. Two of his most famous performances are his five-wicket haul against India in the 2011 World Cup semifinal in Mohali and his blistering burst of fast bowling against Shane Watson in the 2015 World Cup quarterfinal in Adelaide.
Wahab has opted to retire from international cricket after taking a break from red-ball cricket to focus on limited-overs cricket in 2019.
“I have been speaking about my retirement plans for the past two years, that 2023 is my target retirement date from international cricket, and I feel more confident than ever that I have served my country and National team to the best of my ability.”
