Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz plans to retire after 2023 World Cup | Cricket News – Times of India
KARACHI: Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz is planning to retire from international cricket after the 2023 World Cup in India.
The 36-year-old pacer, who has played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is, has not been a regular in the Pakistan team for a while now and was also ignored for the T20 World Cup.
“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 full fit and my passion for the game remains strong as well. Obviously if I am performing, I will carry on,” Wahab said in an interview.
“I think I still have two or three years of good cricket left in me,” he said.
“I have been in and out of the national team for a while now, but I am playing in domestic cricket and also in different leagues, including the Pakistan Super League, and I am performing well, so that is keeping me going.”
The pacer, who appeared as an expert on the A sports channel for the T20 World Cup, said he firmly believed that he could be around as a performing player until 2023.
“My belief is simple. Age is not a matter as long as a player is fit and performing and enjoying his cricket. There are so many examples around these days.
“Fitness levels, diet and all these things have improved a lot in modern day cricket, so times have changed.”
Wahab said in Pakistan Cricket unfortunately, there have been examples of players being sidelined because of their age.
“I have nothing against young players, obviously you need them in the team. They bring energy and a future with them. But the thing is experience, especially as a fast bowler, is so very important, especially in T20 cricket these days,” he said.
Wahab said he was disappointed at missing the T20 World Cup but he could understand the selectors’ policy.
“My job is to just focus on doing well as a player, that is all which is my control. If I can play in next year’s T20 World Cup or the 2023 event, it would be great.”
The 36-year-old pacer, who has played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is, has not been a regular in the Pakistan team for a while now and was also ignored for the T20 World Cup.
“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 full fit and my passion for the game remains strong as well. Obviously if I am performing, I will carry on,” Wahab said in an interview.
“I think I still have two or three years of good cricket left in me,” he said.
“I have been in and out of the national team for a while now, but I am playing in domestic cricket and also in different leagues, including the Pakistan Super League, and I am performing well, so that is keeping me going.”
The pacer, who appeared as an expert on the A sports channel for the T20 World Cup, said he firmly believed that he could be around as a performing player until 2023.
“My belief is simple. Age is not a matter as long as a player is fit and performing and enjoying his cricket. There are so many examples around these days.
“Fitness levels, diet and all these things have improved a lot in modern day cricket, so times have changed.”
Wahab said in Pakistan Cricket unfortunately, there have been examples of players being sidelined because of their age.
“I have nothing against young players, obviously you need them in the team. They bring energy and a future with them. But the thing is experience, especially as a fast bowler, is so very important, especially in T20 cricket these days,” he said.
Wahab said he was disappointed at missing the T20 World Cup but he could understand the selectors’ policy.
“My job is to just focus on doing well as a player, that is all which is my control. If I can play in next year’s T20 World Cup or the 2023 event, it would be great.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
Denial of responsibility! NewsUpdate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
