Wahab Riaz to announce retirement from Test cricket: Reports

When Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from Test cricket, the decision took the world by surprise. The cricketing fraternity was disappointed and shocked. Amir is only 27 and is already looking to manage his workload by quitting the longest format.

Now, Amir’s fellow left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz is also reportedly going to soon bid adieu to the longest format. In fact, he has already made the decision and informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), according to reports in Dunya News.

He blew hot and cold in the World Cup where Pakistan missed the semi-final bus by a whisker. Riaz picked up 11 wickets in the tournament. Currently, the 34-year-old left-arm pacer is in Canada, plying his trade for the Brampton Wolves in the Global T20 Canada. He is expected to make a formal decision once the T20 tournament comes to an end and he returns home.

Wahab Riaz has played 27 Test matches and picked up 83 wickets at an average of 34.50. He last donned the whites for Pakistan in October 2018 against Australia in Dubai. Amir’s decision to quit Test cricket didn’t go down well with the Pakistan greats. Thus, it will be interesting to see how they react to Riaz’s announcement if it comes in the near future.

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur was aware of Amir’s plans

While Mohammad Amir’s decision to walk away from Test cricket was heavily criticized by former Pakistan cricketers like Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Ramiz Raja, Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur isn’t too surprised by Amir’s decision. In fact, he revealed that Test cricket was taking a toll on the 27-year-old’s body. Arthur did admit that he was reluctant but he accepted the decision.

“It was on the cards for a long while. Amir had been speaking to me about it for some time now. His Test career was taking a strain on his body. It’s not about management here. It’s about his desire to play Test cricket and the effects it has on his body… reluctantly I accepted his decision because that’s what he wanted to do and that’s what he thought was best for himself,” Arthur was quoted saying by ESPNCricinfo.