Pakistan left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz has been the latest entrant to the list of members who have been criticized by the Pakistan national coach, Mickey Arthur.
He didn’t get picked in the recently included 25-man squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England. Arthur stated he wants Riaz to push himself out of the comfort zone to represent the national side.
As per reports, Wahab took part in a fitness test and scored 17.4. It is quite above the qualification mark. However, Arthur wanted the pacer to touch at least 19 to get into the probable list.
The main reason behind Wahab’s omission from the probable squad is the failure in the fitness test. Despite not failing he wasn’t included in the squad, as per orders from the coach.
“He has not won us a game in two years,” Arthur told ESPNCricinfo. “I expect players that have been around for a long time to be winning us games and setting standards. Otherwise, we will invest in younger players who have long futures. We have good youngsters around. [Dropping] Wahab is a big decision, but we have chosen a squad according to the time of year, country and conditions. The guys need to push themselves and get out of their comfort zones.”
Wahab was asked to give a reaction on his omission from the Test squad, and the left-arm fast bowler said his performances have been up to the mark in both domestic and international cricket. He further added he is doing whatever required to make a comeback in the national team. He concluded by saying he is a top pacer for Pakistan at the moment,
“If you look at my performances in domestic cricket or during the last Test match for Pakistan, you will see that I have performed well. As a player, I am doing what needs to be done [to get selected], I am in no position to say anything about it. As a player, my job is to perform. Overall, I have performed in Tests whenever I’ve played and given my best. In terms of the wickets column, I think I will be on the top,” he said as quoted by Business Recorder.
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