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Former Pakistani cricketer and national selector, Wahab Riaz decided to withdraw his name from Pakistan's domestic T20 league, the National T20 Cup. Salman Butt revealed the decision during a television show. Wahab was expected to play for Lahore Whites after impressing on the Trail for Lahore Greens with his overall performance. However, when his name was announced for the National T20 Cup, it sparked considerable outrage from supporters. They chastised Pakistan cricket and Wahab Riaz for sacrificing a young player's spot for a player who has already retired and has even served as a Pakistan cricket selector in recent years.
Riaz departed from the game four years ago. The 39-year-old went on to serve as the team's assistant coach and national selector. The actual reason behind Riaz's withdrawal from the competition is attributed to personal commitments and activities. This is undoubtedly a major setback for the Lahore team, which has won the competition five times. Wahab Riaz is the tournament's third-highest wicket-taker, trailing only Sohail Khan and Anwar Ali.
Wahab Riaz's U-turn claiming personal commitments and Champions Cup work
According to Qadir Khawaja, the pacer has opted to withdraw due to personal obligations and involvement in the Champions Cup. Wahab Riaz had last played for Pakistan in 2020, but he continued to play in the PSL until 2023. He has since finished the PCB's level 2 coaching course and was recently awarded the position of administrator. The National T20 Cup will begin on March 14, with defending champions Karachi against Islamabad.
Wahab Riaz was the star bowler for Pakistan, and despite his brief career, he played the role of best bowler in the short cricket format, where he is the leading wicket-taker. Overall, Wahab in his career taken 413 wickets in 348 T20 games, with an average of 22.63 and an economy of 7.54. He has three five-wicket hauls in the format, with his best statistics of 5/8.
