Spare a thought for Wahab Riaz

[TheNightWatchman]

Wahab Riaz played his heart out this WC. He always manages to do so in every worldcup. In a career with so many ups and downs. It's incredible how a 34 year old fast bowler made a comeback into the side even after the coach had dismissed him as a 'has been' a year back. He wasn't even in the original squad yet he managed to leave a mark this tournament and left with his head held high after performing brilliantly with both ball AND bat.
He ran in almost every ball and was bowling at high speeds and was a great death bowler. How do you see his career panning out. It seems near impossible for him to play the next worldcup. Not many bowlers can bowl at 38. think he might be able to make a place for CT 2021 or will a younger bowler take up his place.

 

[Chokli]

World T20 2020 -- He'll be needed there for sure, it's only a year away... Should call it a career after that.

 

[volcyz]

Bowls with more effort than most

 

[Extreme Pace]

I was perplexed by his selection but he really performed outstandingly well. Now that I think about it he bowled some incredible spells in 2015 WC QF and 2011 WC Semi Final. Really seems like a big match player.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

One thing you forgot.8 catches were dropped off his bowling in this world cup which is very unfair for poor wahab.He bowled consistently well and fast. He should definitely next year's world t20.he is best t20 bowler in Pakistan.

 

[Savak]

Should quit tests and focus on the shorter formats. Pakistan blundered by not including him for the tour of South Africa as well

 

[junaidji]

World T20 2020 -- He'll be needed there for sure, it's only a year away... Should call it a career after that.

There's another WT20 2021 a year after 2020, so after that he should call it a day.

 

[junaidji]

He can definitely continue playing T20's, I have no objection. We need him for 2020 and 2021 WT20, after which he retires at age 36. It's in ODI's we need to start grooming new pacers so they can be settled in and have experience by the 2023 ODI World Cup.

 

[SamNJ]

Wahab has only himself to blame to have such career which had some great highs like Mohali 2011, spell to Watson at 2015 and then long abysmal lows.
Should have worked on his new ball skills and consistency in line.
If he continues to blow hot and cold like he has been since 2011 I can see him getting out of the team forever with Hasan and Hasnain in the wings.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

In many ways there was poetic redemption for Wahab in this tournament after some chastening failures that he has faced over the last 2 years. He turned up big time, got it to reverse, got the long levers out when it mattered and in general gave it his all. Probably could have gotten even greater redemption had those catches in the Australia game not been grassed.

 

[pillionrider]

Match threads when Wahab is bowling are hilarious with a whole bunch moaning until he gets a wicket

 

[Napa]

As I have written many times on this forum, he is my favorite Pakistani player. Tries hard and seems to have a good personality.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

the most bad outcome of this wc for pakistan is wahab

 

[Mirpur express]

He is one of those characters who could well call it time to give young ones a chance even though most fans would love to see him play on , that’s Viki for you & then you have besharams like professor who knows his time is up but would like a send off...

 

[ManFan]

He showed great character and had a wonderful tournament.

Numbers don’t do him justice and he proved me wrong.

But he is not someone who you can rely on in regular ODI’s and therefore, should make the way for a younger fast bowler.

 

[Naveedahmed1]

Would be an even better bowler if he quit smoking

 

[saeed5646]

I was very critcal of selecting him for worldcup but boy he have performed brilliantly which don't justify with his stats in the worldcup .

Should focus on t20 worldcup and give up on odis and test

 

[Madplayer]

A very good performance by Wahab in this world cup. Justified his selection.

Wahab should retire now from all international cricket. He isnt a good t20 bowler because the ball never gets old. Plus the next t20wc is in India if i am not mistaken. He wont even get much bounce there. Its best for him to retire now and concentrate on PSL and other leagues. Let the new talent come in.

 

[saeed5646]

A very good performance by Wahab in this world cup. Justified his selection.

Wahab should retire now from all international cricket. He isnt a good t20 bowler because the ball never gets old. Plus the next t20wc is in India if i am not mistaken. He wont even get much bounce there. Its best for him to retire now and concentrate on PSL and other leagues. Let the new talent come in.

next t20 worldcup is in aus where pitches will suite his bowling

 

[saeedhk]

I was unhappy with his selection but he redeemed himself in this world cup. He should stay in the team for the next two years.

 

[Ram Shekhar]

His death bowling stood out for me apart from Shaheen Afridi's bowling for Pakistan. He put in great efforts and never gave anything easily throughout the world cup..

 

[Misia]

He has never really got any credit for his work ethic from day one ,, always giving 110%

 

[Sunzi]

I had high hopes for him when I saw him take that 5 in Mohali but he has ever built on it and it's 8 years on now.

He has been pacy and, I didnt realise but note that, he has had 8 catches dropped off his bowling but he is a very expensive bowler - I find him very frustrating to watch.

He has played cameos with the bat too, to his credit.

I think he should bow out now while he receives the support and appreciation of the fraternity/fans but... I fear he will have cemented his spot for another couple of years.

 

[Abid Z]

This is a re run of 2015. Bowls some good and threatening spells and all fans swoon over his speed and fitness that has good batsmen hopping around. Then the following bilateral series bowls rank long hops and half trackers that race to the boundary and suddenly we remember why we wanted him out of the team in the first place.

For tests he’s almost guaranteed to prise out a wicket or two but at what cost ?
For ODI he’s very much dependent on conditions as not everywhere will he get reverse swing but he will certainly go for 60 odd runs

For t20’s we should be trying out younger guys.

 

[Mueez]

I will definitely let him play WT20 along with Shaheen and Amir.

That is a very potent T20 attack.

 

[sweep_shot]

Wahab is someone who puts in a lot of effort. He is a decent ODI bowler.

 

[AdamM97]

I expected him to fail tbh but i was surprised that he did well. He’s such a fighter.

 

[Saj]

11 wickets at an average of 36.36.

Economy rate of 6.00

Not brilliant, but he did ok and probably better than most expected him to.

 

[NauV]

11 wickets at an average of 36.36.

Economy rate of 6.00

Not brilliant, but he did ok and probably better than most expected him to.

He had 8 catches dropped of his bowling . . those stats could have looked very very different . .

 

[TheNightWatchman]

11 wickets at an average of 36.36.

Economy rate of 6.00

Not brilliant, but he did ok and probably better than most expected him to.

His stats don't do justice to how good he supported the other bowlers. And how crucial his death bowling was to Pakistan.

 

[Markhor]

I appreciate how Wahab gives 100% commitment to the cause every time he goes out onto the field, exemplified by his brave batting and bowling performance with a broken finger vs Afghanistan.

The two new balls rule badly hurt Wahab's career, as he's an asset when the ball is reversing especially at the death when he can fire in those yorkers at pace !

It's useful to have a seasoned pro guiding the youngsters like Shaheen along. I feel we have an excellent pace attack if you add a quality right arm seamer to support Amir, Shaheen and Wahab.

 

[Abdullah]

Just met him at the airport and he seemed quite downbeat.
I just let him know we were a bit unfortunate and that boys done well

 

[Titan24]

He can definitely continue playing T20's, I have no objection. We need him for 2020 and 2021 WT20, after which he retires at age 36. It's in ODI's we need to start grooming new pacers so they can be settled in and have experience by the 2023 ODI World Cup.

I agree. In ODIs he can play when youngsters are rotated and other bowlers are rested, an excellent support bowler to have, though he is still the best death bowler we have so we need to groom someone like Haris Rauf maybe for that role.

 

[Hasan123]

He did well in this tournament. I appreciate his effort.

 

[Mercurial]

He was ok. He should retire. It will be ridiculous to see him and Hafeez playing after the WC.

 

[moghul]

Great team man, awesome sportsman, always gives his 100% for the team, no wonder he has reasonably long and successful career for a fast bowler, payed 3 world cups.

 

[Leeon1994]

He also supported Pakistan a lot with his batting. Was a better bowler than Hassan Ali this tournament.

 

[Markhor]

He also supported Pakistan a lot with his batting. Was a better bowler than Hassan Ali this tournament.

Better batsman than the Fake Swag Duo and supposed "all rounders" Shadab and Faheem.

 

[Chokli]

[MENTION=107807]Pete Rose[/MENTION]

Told you that the World Cup is a different ball game.

 

[hadi123]

Was really against his selection but he gave it his all.

 

[fitCricFan]

Wahab Riaz played his heart out this WC. He always manages to do so in every worldcup. In a career with so many ups and downs. It's incredible how a 34 year old fast bowler made a comeback into the side even after the coach had dismissed him as a 'has been' a year back. He wasn't even in the original squad yet he managed to leave a mark this tournament and left with his head held high after performing brilliantly with both ball AND bat.
He ran in almost every ball and was bowling at high speeds and was a great death bowler. How do you see his career panning out. It seems near impossible for him to play the next worldcup. Not many bowlers can bowl at 38. think he might be able to make a place for CT 2021 or will a younger bowler take up his place.

All I'll say is that WR gave more than 110% in this WC. If you are talking about bowling his heart out then that would be the 2015 WC and his intent in the match with Australia was obvious. That is where he gave it everything but Unfortunately for WR, he doesn't have much variation in his bowling, doesn't swing much and with most of the batsmen improvising and getting creative with their shots, pace alone is not a guarantee of success (wickets or economy rate) any more.

As much as his fans would like him to stay I thgik its time for him to move on and pass on his legacy to the next speedster from Pakistan. Sadly, all good things have to come to an end

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Should quit tests and focus on the shorter formats. Pakistan blundered by not including him for the tour of South Africa as well

I don't think he is suited for T20. Wahab is a tailormade old ball test match bowler. Its a pity he played mostly in dead UAE wickets. I just love his passion and intensity. As an Indian fan, apart from mohali and spell vs Watson, i will remember his gutsy cameo vs Afghanistan which saved the day for Pakistan. I guess guys like Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees are more suited for T20 format.