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Wahab Riaz

Summary

Wahab Riaz (Urdu, Punjabi: وہاب ریاض; born 28 June 1985) is a Pakistani cricket administrator and former cricketer who was the incumbent chief selector of Pakistan national cricket team from 17 November 2023 until 24 March 2024, and is an advisor to the chief minister of Punjab for sports and youth affairs, in the caretaker government headed by Mohsin Raza Naqvi.[3]

Wahab Riaz
Wahab in 2017
Chief Selector of Pakistan national cricket team
In office
17 November 2023 – 24 March 2024
Preceded byInzamam-ul-Haq
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab for Sports and Youth Affairs
Assumed office
22 March 2023
Personal details
Born (1985-06-28) 28 June 1985 (age 38)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
NicknameViki[1]
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeft-arm fast
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 202)18 August 2010 v England
Last Test7 October 2018 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 174)2 February 2008 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI3 November 2020 v Zimbabwe
ODI shirt no.47
T20I debut (cap 24)20 April 2008 v Bangladesh
Last T20I20 December 2020 v New Zealand
T20I shirt no.47
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2001/02–2018/19Lahore[a]
2003/04–2004/05Hyderabad
2006/07–2014/15National Bank of Pakistan
2006/07–2014/15Punjab
2016–2023Peshawar Zalmi
2017–2018Barbados Tridents
2017/18–2018/19WAPDA
2018/19–2020/21Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
2021/22–2022/23Central Punjab
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 27 91 136 191
Runs scored 306 740 2,675 1,470
Batting average 8.50 14.50 16.51 16.33
100s/50s 0/0 0/3 0/10 0/5
Top score 39 54* 84 77
Balls bowled 5,018 4,327 23,328 8,917
Wickets 83 120 441 260
Bowling average 34.50 34.30 29.13 30.81
5 wickets in innings 2 1 16 5
10 wickets in match 0 0 5 0
Best bowling 5/63 5/46 9/59 5/24
Catches/stumpings 5/– 29/– 41/– 59/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 25 July 2022

Riaz was a left-arm fast bowler and a right-handed batsman. He frequently bowled at speeds of around 90 mph (144.8 km/h) and had reached 96 miles per hour (154 km/h). His all round performance in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 earned him worldwide recognition. In August 2018, he was one of 33 players to be awarded a central contract for the 2018–19 season by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).[4][5] In September 2019, Riaz announced that he would be taking a break from red-ball cricket to focus on the shorter formats of the game.[6] In June 2020, Riaz said he was willing to play Test cricket again, ahead of Pakistan's tour to England.[7]

Early life and family edit

Riaz was born on 28 June 1985 in a Punjabi Gujjar family to Muhammad Sikandar Riaz Kasana, who was a businessman.[8][9]

He was educated at the prestigious Aitchison College, Lahore.[10]

Riaz is married to Zainab Chaudhary and they have three children, two daughters, Eshal (b. 2015) and Hoorain (b. 2020), and a son, Sikandar (b. 2023), named after his late father.[11]

Cricket career edit

Riaz was chosen in Pakistan's T20I squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh which also included India. In his first match against Bangladesh, he finished with 3 wickets for 22 runs in 7 overs. In the next match against India, he took two wickets while conceding 85 runs.

Riaz made his Test debut against England in the third test of the 2010 series. England batted first and Riaz took 5/63 in the first innings. In Pakistan's first innings, he came into bat at number 3 and scored 27 runs.[12]

Riaz next played for Pakistan in the Test series against South Africa in October 2010 after he participated in 4 ODIs. He was selected to play in the first Test later in that series. He took the wickets of Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla before suffering a side strain later that day and was later ruled out from the test series.[13]

In March 2011, Riaz appeared for Pakistan for four matches. He performed notably, taking 5 wickets in the Pakistan vs India semi-final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, where he appeared as a replacement for Shoaib Akhtar.[14]

Shortly after the World Cup, Pakistan toured the West Indies for two Tests, five ODIs, and a T20I; Riaz was included in the squad.[15] He took two wickets in the T20I, in a losing effort,[16] and played in four out of the five ODIs, taking seven wickets at an average of 25.28 and finishing as Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in the series.[17] In a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on the team's performance in the West Indies, coach Waqar Younis commented that Riaz had an "average" tour.[18] In May Pakistan toured Ireland for a two-match ODI series, and although Riaz was included in the squad he did not play a match.[19][20]

After the tour of Ireland, Riaz entered talks with Kent, eventually signing to play for them in county cricket. The club had suffered injuries to their fast bowlers and Riaz was drafted in to bolster their line up.[21] He made his T20 debut for Kent against Glamorgan on 11 June. He took Chris Cooke's wicket, and guided his team to victory with a final batting score of 32 not out, hitting the winning runs after being sent in up the order.[22] On his home debut Riaz took a hat-trick – dismissing Chris Taylor, Ed Young, and Richard Coughtrie – and recording figures of 5 wickets for 17 runs (5/17) against Gloucestershire to help his team to an eight-wicket victory. It was the second time a player had taken a T20 hat-trick for Kent,[23] and was the first time Riaz took five wickets in the format, beating previous best bowling figures of 3/14.[24] During his spell with Kent Riaz took 13 first-class wickets at an average of 33.53,[25] 9 in list A cricket at 13.33,[26] and 20 wickets in t20 matches at an average of 19.85.[27]

In August, Riaz was awarded a category B central contract with the PCB; six players were in category A, eight (including Riaz) in B, and nine in C.[28] When Pakistan toured Zimbabwe in September, Riaz was rested with the selectors taking the opportunity to blood a number of new and inexperienced players.[29] Though recalled to the Test squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka,[30] he did not play in the series[31] and was dropped from the ODI squad to face the same opponents.[32] Originally rested from the Test team to give younger players a chance,[29] Riaz's hiatus from the squad extended to six months. His continued absence was not explained by the PCB. He was recalled to Pakistan's Test squad to face England for three matches in the United Arab Emirates. While he was out of the side, Riaz played for the National Bank of Pakistan in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy. Before the squad was announced he had taken 30 wickets in the competition at an average of 24.86, and 213 runs at an average of 35.50.[33]

On 30 August 2016, he conceded 110 runs in his stipulated 10 overs, which is the second worst bowling figure ever in ODI cricket.[34]

In April 2018, he was named in Punjab's squad for the 2018 Pakistan Cup.[35][36] In March 2019, he was named in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's squad for the 2019 Pakistan Cup.[37][38] He was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with ten dismissals in five matches.[39]

In June 2020, he was named in a 29-man squad for Pakistan's tour to England during the COVID-19 pandemic.[40][41] However, on 23 June 2020, Riaz was one of seven players from Pakistan's squad to test positive for COVID-19.[42] In July, he was shortlisted in Pakistan's 20-man squad for the Test matches against England.[43][44]

He retired from international cricket in August 2023.[45]

2015 Cricket World Cup edit

In January 2015, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2015 Cricket World Cup, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named their final fifteen-man squad for the tournament.[46]

In Pakistan's opening matches, he took 1 wicket each against India & West Indies. He followed by a man of the match performance against Zimbabwe in which he scored 54 not out off 46 balls and took 4 wickets. Against UAE, took two wickets. He followed it up by taking three wickets versus South Africa. He took three wickets against Ireland in Pakistan's last group game. In the quarterfinal match against Australia, he took Australian skipper Michael Clarke's wicket and, then, showed some aggressive interaction by sarcastic clapping and a flying kiss to Shane Watson.[47][48] ICC fined Riaz for the behavior.[49]

Riaz's spell against Australia won him plaudits from numerous cricketers past and present,[50] with Michael Clarke referring to Riaz's performance 'as good as I've faced in ODI cricket for a long time'[51] and Kevin Pietersen describing the spell as the "Best spell of bowling by a foreigner on Aussie soil for years".[52]

After the match Riaz became a trend on Twitter. Brian Lara tweeted "I want to meet with this Riaz guy," adding that he would pay the fine imposed on Riaz by the ICC for his verbal altercation with Watson. Brian Lara was later invited by Riaz to Pakistan via Twitter.[53][54][55][56][57]

2019 Cricket World Cup edit

In May 2019, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named their final fifteen-man squad for the tournament.[58][59]

He was a regular starter throughout the tournament and took 11 wickets in 8 games with an economy of 6 runs per over and a bowling strike rate of 36.3 balls.[60]

During the tournament, he became Pakistan's 2nd highest wicket-taker in World Cup history going past Imran Khan's tally of 34 wickets.[61]

T20 franchise career edit

Riaz was allocated as a Platinum category player in the 2016 Pakistan Super League players draft. He was bought by Peshawar Zalmi for $140,000 for the 2016 competition.[62]

During a group stage match in 2016 against Quetta Gladiators, Riaz had an exchange of words and a physical tussle with batsman Ahmed Shehzad. The Pakistan Cricket Board imposed a fine on both the players and issued an official warning to them.[63]

He was retained by the Peshawar Zalmi for the second PSL season in 2017. Peshawar won the 2017 competition and, as of the end of the 2017 PSL, Riaz is the leading wicket-taker with 30 wickets in 19 matches.[64] He has played for Zalmi in every edition so far.[65] On 18 February 2022 Wahab took his 100th wicket in the PSL for Peshawar, becoming the first player overall to reach the milestone.[66]

In September 2018, he was named in Kandahar's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament.[67] In June 2019, he was selected to play for the Brampton Wolves franchise team in the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament.[68] In September 2019, he was named in the squad for the Cape Town Blitz team for the 2019 Mzansi Super League tournament.[69] In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Dhaka Platoon in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League.[70] In October 2020, he was drafted by the Kandy Tuskers for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League.[71] In May 2021, he was named in the St Lucia Zouks squad for the 2021 Caribbean Premier League.[72] In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Jaffna Kings following the players' draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League.[73]

In April 2022, he was bought by the Northern Superchargers for the 2022 season of The Hundred in England.[74]

In January 2023, while playing for the Khulna Tigers in the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League, he became the first Pakistani bowler to take 400 T20 wickets.[75]

Political career edit

In January 2023, Riaz was appointed as sports minister in Mohsin Raza Naqvi's caretaker Punjab government but could not take his oath due to his busy schedule.[76] He was later appointed as the Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab for sports and youth affairs on 22 March 2023.[77][78]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Only clubs that Wahab has played for for more than one season are included in this list.

References edit

  1. ^ "In pictures: Wahab Riaz celebrates daughter's first birthday". SAMAA TV. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2022. ...Wahab, also known by his nickname Viki...
  2. ^ "Profile". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Wahab Riaz to head national men's selection committee". 10 January 2014.
  4. ^ "PCB Central Contracts 2018–19". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  5. ^ "New central contracts guarantee earnings boost for Pakistan players". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Wahab Riaz takes break from red-ball cricket to focus on shorter formats". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Wahab Riaz willing to return to Test cricket on England tour". ESPN Cricinfo. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Wahab Riaz's father passes away". ARY News. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Pakistani Cricketers And Their Wives At Wedding Of Wahab Riaz Sister". Health Fashion. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  10. ^ Newspaper, the (19 April 2011). "Wahab Riaz: A profile". DAWN.COM.
  11. ^ "Wahab Riaz names his son after his late father Sikandar". Samaa. 17 March 2023.
  12. ^ "3rd Test: England v Pakistan at The Oval, Aug 18–21, 2010". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  13. ^ "Side strain rules Riaz out of South Africa series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  14. ^ "Wahab Riaz Bowling Score Card". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  15. ^ 'Chance to establish career' – Intikhab Alam, ESPNcricinfo, 18 April 2011, retrieved 10 July 2011
  16. ^ tt2147 itt199 West Indies v Pakistan: Pakistan in West Indies 2011 (Twenty20), Cricket Archive, retrieved 10 July 2011
  17. ^ Records / Pakistan in West Indies ODI Series, 2011 / Most wickets, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 10 July 2011
  18. ^ Yaqoob, Mohammad (9 July 2011), "Waqar calls for grooming of young captain for 2015 World Cup", Dawn, retrieved 10 July 2011
  19. ^ Records / Pakistan in Ireland ODI Series, 2011 / Most wickets, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 3 June 2011
  20. ^ Samiuddin, Osman (19 May 2011), Misbah replaces Afridi as ODI captain, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 10 July 2011
  21. ^ Kent set to sign Wahab Riaz, ESPNcricinfo, 4 June 2011, retrieved 29 June 2011
  22. ^ Riaz, Northeast steer Kent home, ESPNcricinfo, 11 June 2011, retrieved 29 June 2011
  23. ^ Riaz and Mahmood star for Kent, ESPNcricinfo, 15 June 2011, retrieved 10 June 2011
  24. ^ tt2243 Kent v Gloucestershire: Friends Life t20 2011 (South Division), Cricket Archive, retrieved 10 July 2011
  25. ^ First-class bowling for each team by Wahab Riaz, Cricket Archive, retrieved 6 October 2011
  26. ^ ListA bowling for each team by Wahab Riaz, Cricket Archive, retrieved 6 October 2011
  27. ^ Twenty20 bowling for each team by Wahab Riaz, Cricket Archive, retrieved 6 October 2011
  28. ^ No central contracts for Afridi, Kamran Akmal, ESPNcricinfo, 8 August 2011, retrieved 9 August 2011
  29. ^ a b Raja, Cheema, Sohail included in squad for Zimbabwe, ESPNcricinfo, 28 July 2011, retrieved 28 July 2011
  30. ^ Farooq, Umar (29 September 2011), Selectors look to experience for Sri Lanka, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 2 November 2011
  31. ^ Test matches played by Wahab Riaz, Cricket Archive, retrieved 21 November 2011
  32. ^ Afridi returns to Pakistan ODI squad, ESPNcricinfo, 2 November 2011, retrieved 2 November 2011
  33. ^ Farooq, Umar (27 December 2011), Riaz relieved to be back after unexplained break, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 27 December 2011
  34. ^ "110 runs conceded by Wahab". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  35. ^ "Pakistan Cup one-day tournament to begin in Faisalabad next week". Geo TV. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  36. ^ "Pakistan Cup Cricket from 25th". The News International. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  37. ^ "Federal Areas aim to complete hat-trick of Pakistan Cup titles". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Pakistan Cup one-day cricket from April 2". The International News. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  39. ^ "Pakistan Cup, 2019: Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  40. ^ "Haider Ali the new face as Pakistan name 29-man touring party for England". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  41. ^ "Haider Ali named in 29-player squad for England tour". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  42. ^ "Seven more Pakistan players test positive for Covid-19". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  43. ^ "Pakistan shortlist players for England Tests". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  44. ^ "Wahab Riaz, Sarfaraz Ahmed in 20-man Pakistan squad for England Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  45. ^ "Pakistan stalwart announces retirement from international cricket". Icc-cricket.com. International Cricket Council. 16 August 2023.
  46. ^ "Pakistan pick Sohail Khan for World Cup | ESPNcricinfo.com". www.espncricinfo.com. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  47. ^ Australia survive Wahab Riaz scare after Pakistan suffer batting implosion. Cricbuzz (20 March 2015). Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  48. ^ That Wahab spell — A nation's faith in pace restored – Sport. Dawn.Com. Retrieved on 24 April 2015.
  49. ^ Ihsan, Nzaar. (23 March 2015) Dear ICC, so what if Wahab Riaz blew a kiss at Shane Watson? – The Express Tribune Blog. Blogs.tribune.com.pk. Retrieved on 2015-04-24.
  50. ^ Fernando, Andrew. "Wahab v Watson, the fury and the folly". ESPN Cricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  51. ^ Burnett, Adam. "High praise for Wahab's 'nasty' spell". cricket.com.au. Cricket Australia. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  52. ^ Pietersen, Kevin. "Kevin Pietersen: Best spell of bowling by a foreigner on Aussie soil for years". Twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  53. ^ Shane Watson says he was lucky to escape Wahab Riaz's fiery spell. The News Tribe. Retrieved on 24 April 2015.
  54. ^ World Cup 2015: Wahab Riaz Invites Brian Lara to Pakistan – World Cup 2015 News. Sports.ndtv.com. Retrieved on 24 April 2015.
  55. ^ Wahab Riaz invites Lara to Pakistan | SPORT. geo.tv. Retrieved on 24 April 2015.
  56. ^ Wahab Riaz invites West Indies legend Brian Lara to Pakistan. Dailytimes.com.pk. Retrieved on 24 April 2015.
  57. ^ World Cup 2015: Wahab Riaz apologises to fans for loss to Australia | Cricket World Cup 2015. Hindustan Times. Retrieved on 24 April 2015.
  58. ^ "Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali included in Pakistan World Cup squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  59. ^ "Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz named in Pakistan's World Cup squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  60. ^ "Live Cricket Scores & News - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019". www.cricketworldcup.com. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  61. ^ "World Cup Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  62. ^ Players’ Auction Price for Pakistan Super League 2016, brandsynario, 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  63. ^ Wahab Riaz, Ahmed Shehzad involved in ugly fight during PSL; fined heavily by PCB, The Indian Express, 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  64. ^ "Leading wicket-taker in PSL". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  65. ^ "Pakistan Super League Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  66. ^ "PSL record: Wahab Riaz becomes first bowler to take 100 wickets". Geo News. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  67. ^ "Afghanistan Premier League 2018 – All you need to know from the player draft". CricTracker. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  68. ^ "Global T20 draft streamed live". Canada Cricket Online. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  69. ^ "MSL 2.0 announces its T20 squads". Cricket South Africa. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  70. ^ "BPL draft: Tamim Iqbal to team up with coach Mohammad Salahuddin for Dhaka". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  71. ^ "Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi among big names taken at LPL draft". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  72. ^ "Saint Lucia Kings announce squad for CPL 2021". www.saintluciakings.com. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  73. ^ "Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews miss out on LPL drafts". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  74. ^ "The Hundred 2022: latest squads as Draft picks revealed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  75. ^ Isam, Mohammad (21 January 2023). "BPL round-up: Pakistan players sparkle, Barishal surge up the table, and Dhaka flounder". Cricinfo. You may think Wahab Riaz is past his prime, but the 37-year-old's last two performances say otherwise. He has gone past 400 wickets in T20s, becoming the first player from Pakistan to do so.
  76. ^ "Cricketer Wahab Riaz named as Punjab's caretaker sports minister". Geo News. 26 January 2023.
  77. ^ "Wahab Riaz starts duties as adviser to Punjab CM on sports and youth affairs". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  78. ^ "Wahab Riaz takes charge as Advisor to CM Punjab on Sports Affairs". The Nation. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.

External links edit

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