ICC World Cup 2019: Wahab Riaz Hopeful to Prove his Credentials
May 22, 2019 at 4:39 PM
From the late-night call from Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-Ul-Haq and being stunned on making it to the 15-man World Cup squad, speedster Wahab Riaz is set to prove himself at the world stage. He sees himself lucky on representing his country at the highest level.
“I can’t explain in words the pain I have gone through, but I don’t want to live in the past. That’s history now,” Riaz said at a press conference before leaving for England on May 22 (Tuesday).
Between 2011 and 2015, Riaz has scalped 24 wickets in 12 World Cup fixtures. Overall, he has eked out 102 wickets in 79 ODIs for Pakistan since making his debut against Zimbabwe in 2008.
It becomes pertinent to point out that the left-arm paceman has last featured for Pakistan during the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. However, he featured in Birmingham against India. But the team management has overlooked him for almost two years. He came at the expense of Junaid Khan, who recently broke the internet with his cryptic message for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and selectors.
The 33-year-old Riaz has been drafted into the 15-man World Cup squad on May 20 when Inzamam revealed the finalised names during a media gathering.
ICC World Cup 2019 – Riaz wants to prove Mickey Arthur wrong:
Meanwhile, Riaz also set his task to prove Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur wrong. Arthur has vehemently criticised Riaz for his ‘work ethic’ in April 2018.
So much so, the Proteas maintained Riaz hadn’t done enough to win matches for Pakistan.
“Now, it’s about what we are going to do in the World Cup. Obviously, it’s the coach’s duty to get the best results from the players. And he wants players that can win matches for the team. I also wanted to be in the team, the only difference is I missed two years of (international) cricket. Now, I am in and want to prove him (Arthur) wrong and justify my opportunity,” he added.
However, Riaz’s bowling average is the higher side- reading 34.34. He is keen to give his hundred per cent in the impending quadrennial event.
One dream after another, Wahab Riaz lands into Pakistan World Cup squad:
Interestingly, Riaz revealed he had a dream about witnessing Arthur, Inzamam and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed.
“I kept myself fully prepared for this World Cup even knowing that I am nowhere near the team. I even had dreams I was meeting Mickey Arthur and Sarfaraz Ahmad. And sometimes they would pick me, and reject me at other times. Around 10 days ago, I had a dream that Inzi bhai (Inzamam-ul-Haq, the chief selector) gave me a call And he told me that I have been selected and this is my last chance,” he elaborated.
Picked for his experience, Wahab stated he will keep his basics right. He added, he won’t try too much on the flatter English surfaces.
With the exclusion of all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and batsman Abid Ali, Mohammed Amir and Asif Ali have made it to the squad.
Pakistan will begin their World Cup campaign against Windies on May 31st in Nottingham.