Wahab Riaz
Encyclopedia
Wahab Riaz is a Pakistani cricket
er. He is a left-arm fast-medium bowler and a right-hand batsman. Riaz is a former student of Islamia College, Civil Lines, Lahore. He frequently bowls at speeds of around 90 miles per hour (40.2 m/s) and has reached 93 to 94 mph (41.6 to 42 ).
Riaz was chosen in the squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh which also included India and in his first match against Bangladesh, he finished with 3 wickets for 22 runs in 7 overs and in the next match although he took two Indian wickets he conceded 85 runs.
Wahab made his Test debut against England in the third test of the 2010 series. England batted first and Wahab took 5/63 in the first innings. In Pakistan's first innings he came into bat at number 3 and made 27 runs.
Suleman next played for Pakistan in the Test series against South Africa in October 2010 he participated in 4 ODIs. He was selected to play in the first Test later in that series he took two wickets those of Graeme Smith
and Hashim Amla
however towards the end of the day he picked up a side strain. He did not bowl the following day. A scan showed that Riaz had picked up an injury which takes 4–5 weeks to recover from therefore he missed the rest of the Test series.
In March 2011 he played for Pakistani team in at least four matches with an above average performance, however he really came in the limelight at the Pakistan Vs India semi-final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup
, when he replaced Shoaib Akhtar
and took 5 wickets.
Shortly after the World Cup, Pakistan toured the West Indies
for two Tests, five ODIs, and a T20I; Riaz was included in the squad. He took two wickets in the T20I, which Pakistan lost, and played in four out of the five ODIs, taking seven wickets at an average of 25.28 and finishing as Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in the series. In a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) on the teams performance in the West Indies, coach Waqar Younis
commented that Riaz had an "average" tour. In May Pakistan toured Ireland
for a two-match ODI series, and although Riaz was included in the squad he did not play a match.
After the tour of Ireland, Riaz entered talks with Kent
, eventually signing to play for them in county cricket. The club had suffered injuries to their fast bowlers and Riaz was drafted in to bolster their line up. He made his twenty20 debut for Kent against Glamorgan
on 11 June. He took a single wicket, that of Chris Cooke, and guided his team to victory with 32 not out
, hitting the winning runs after being sent in up the order. On his home debut Riaz took a hat-trick – dismissing Chris Taylor, Ed Young
, and Richard Coughtrie
– and recording figures of 5 wickets for 17 runs (5/17) against Gloucestershire
to help his team to an eight-wicket victory. It was the second time a player had taken a T20 hat-trick for Kent, and was the first time Riaz took five wickets in the format, beating previous best bowling figures of 3/14. During his spell with Kent Riaz took 13 first-class wickets at an average of 33.53, 9 in list A cricket at 13.33, and 20 wickets in t20 matches at an average of 19.85.
In August, Riaz was awarded a category B central contract with the PCB; six players were in category A, eight (including Riaz) in B, and nine in C. When Pakistan toured Zimbabwe in September, Riaz was rested with the selectors taking the opportunity to blood a number of new and inexperienced players. Though recalled to the Test squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka, he did not play in the series and was dropped from the ODI squad to face the same opponents.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He is a left-arm fast-medium bowler and a right-hand batsman. Riaz is a former student of Islamia College, Civil Lines, Lahore. He frequently bowls at speeds of around 90 miles per hour (40.2 m/s) and has reached 93 to 94 mph (41.6 to 42 ).
Riaz was chosen in the squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh which also included India and in his first match against Bangladesh, he finished with 3 wickets for 22 runs in 7 overs and in the next match although he took two Indian wickets he conceded 85 runs.
Wahab made his Test debut against England in the third test of the 2010 series. England batted first and Wahab took 5/63 in the first innings. In Pakistan's first innings he came into bat at number 3 and made 27 runs.
Suleman next played for Pakistan in the Test series against South Africa in October 2010 he participated in 4 ODIs. He was selected to play in the first Test later in that series he took two wickets those of Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith
Graeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
and Hashim Amla
Hashim Amla
Hashim Mahomed Amla is a South African cricketer. A right-handed upper order batsman and occasional medium-pace bowler, Amla bats at number 3 for South Africa in Test matches and has opened in limited overs contests. He is currently ranked as the No...
however towards the end of the day he picked up a side strain. He did not bowl the following day. A scan showed that Riaz had picked up an injury which takes 4–5 weeks to recover from therefore he missed the rest of the Test series.
In March 2011 he played for Pakistani team in at least four matches with an above average performance, however he really came in the limelight at the Pakistan Vs India semi-final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup
2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
, when he replaced Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar is a former Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket, who is regarded as the fastest bowler in the history of cricket. He set an official world record by achieving the fastest delivery, when he clocked in at 161.3 km/h in his bowling speed, twice at a cricket match against...
and took 5 wickets.
Shortly after the World Cup, Pakistan toured the West Indies
Pakistani cricket team in the West Indies in 2011
The Pakistani cricket team toured the West Indies from 18 April to 24 May 2011. The tour consisted of two Tests, one Twenty20 and five One Day Internationals .-Squads:-Tour matches:-Only T20I:-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:-3rd ODI:-4th ODI:...
for two Tests, five ODIs, and a T20I; Riaz was included in the squad. He took two wickets in the T20I, which Pakistan lost, and played in four out of the five ODIs, taking seven wickets at an average of 25.28 and finishing as Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in the series. In a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board
Pakistan Cricket Board
The Pakistan Cricket Board is a sporting organization that is responsible for governing all professional cricket including Test cricket and One Day International matches played in Pakistan...
(PCB) on the teams performance in the West Indies, coach Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis Maitla is a former Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket and widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time...
commented that Riaz had an "average" tour. In May Pakistan toured Ireland
Pakistani cricket team in Ireland in 2011
-2nd ODI:...
for a two-match ODI series, and although Riaz was included in the squad he did not play a match.
After the tour of Ireland, Riaz entered talks with Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
, eventually signing to play for them in county cricket. The club had suffered injuries to their fast bowlers and Riaz was drafted in to bolster their line up. He made his twenty20 debut for Kent against Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
on 11 June. He took a single wicket, that of Chris Cooke, and guided his team to victory with 32 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
, hitting the winning runs after being sent in up the order. On his home debut Riaz took a hat-trick – dismissing Chris Taylor, Ed Young
Ed Young (cricketer)
Edward George Christopher Young is an English cricketer, a right handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler who currently plays for Gloucestershire. He made his first class debut for Oxford UCCE against Worcestershire in April 2009...
, and Richard Coughtrie
Richard Coughtrie
Richard Coughtrie is an English cricketer, a wicket-keeper-batsman who currently plays for Gloucestershire. He made his first class debut for Oxford UCCE against Worcestershire in April 2009. Coughtrie is currently studying at Oxford Brookes University...
– and recording figures of 5 wickets for 17 runs (5/17) against Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
to help his team to an eight-wicket victory. It was the second time a player had taken a T20 hat-trick for Kent, and was the first time Riaz took five wickets in the format, beating previous best bowling figures of 3/14. During his spell with Kent Riaz took 13 first-class wickets at an average of 33.53, 9 in list A cricket at 13.33, and 20 wickets in t20 matches at an average of 19.85.
In August, Riaz was awarded a category B central contract with the PCB; six players were in category A, eight (including Riaz) in B, and nine in C. When Pakistan toured Zimbabwe in September, Riaz was rested with the selectors taking the opportunity to blood a number of new and inexperienced players. Though recalled to the Test squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka, he did not play in the series and was dropped from the ODI squad to face the same opponents.