Veteran Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz believes that he still has two or three years of good cricket left in him as he is planning to retire from international cricket after the 2023 World Cup in India.
The 36-year-old pacer has so far played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 36 T20Is for Pakistan. However, he wasn’t part of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2021 squad and has not been a regular in the team in recent times.
Wahab said in an interview: “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.”
The pacer continued, “I think I still have two or three years of good cricket left in me. 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.
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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.”
On his omission for T20 World Cup 2021, Riaz said: “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.”
Wahab also said he isn’t against the young players, but it is also important to have experienced players in the team as well when he was asked about the senior players being sidelined because of their age.
He signed off by saying, “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.”
(With PTI Inputs)
