Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Wahan Riaz has requested his bowling coach Waqar Younis to go easy on him regarding his statements and attitude towards the later.
Earlier this week, Waqar, criticized, in a video conference with reporters, the left-arm pacers Mohammad Amir and Riaz for giving up Test cricket to focus on their white-ball career. The bowling coach had said of the two: “The staff had to select youngsters for the Australia tour because Amir and Wahab ditched us before it was to get underway.”
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Wahab has taken an "indefinite break" from the longest format of the game in September last right after Amir’s sudden retirement from Test cricket – which made it really tough for Pakistan’s young fast-bowlers to survive in front of Australia’s world-class batters in the recent whitewashed Test series 0-2.
However, in an Instagram live session on Wednesday, April 9, former Pakistan captain has shown softness and optimism about the 34-year-old, who hasn’t played for Pakistan since Australia T20Is last November, advising him to work hard and keep his hunger alive for representing the country.
Waqar said on Instagram Live: “My firm belief is that you have got cricket left in you, you just keep working hard and Pakistan always need you. There is no match for experience when it comes to any form of the game. I think you still have the desire that you want to play for Pakistan. If you keep that hunger, it will bring you back.”
Well, Wahab is agreed with his bowling coach, but requested the legendary bowler to not be too hard on him. He replied Waqar: “That’s what my motive is and I will keep doing it, but please go easy on me. At times, you get so angry with me when I don’t do good, you don’t even talk to me for a long time.”
However, Waqar explained the reason behind his above-mentioned behavior towards the pacer, adding: “I get angry because I have spent time with you since your childhood. I know you are capable but sometimes you don’t do what is required.”
Meanwhile, the Lahore-born pacer has also opened up about his international future plans, saying: “If I am talking realistically, I have another three to four years of cricket left in me depending on my fitness. I will always give first preference to Pakistan instead of leagues. Even when I am playing in leagues around the world, my eye is on representing Pakistan.”
Wahab signed off by saying, “I feel if I perform in these leagues, I have more chance of representing Pakistan. I learned a big lesson after getting dropped post-2017 Champions Trophy. I made sure whatever cricket I play; I perform in that and make a comeback in the Pakistan team. As long as I have the desire to play for Pakistan, I will keep working hard.”
(With Cricket Pakistan Inputs)
