Wahab Riaz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wahab Riaz
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Wahab in 2017
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| Chief Selector of Pakistan national cricket team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 17 November 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Inzamam-ul-Haq | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab for Sports and Youth Affairs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 March 2023 – 27 February 2024 |
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| Personal details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 June 1985 Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
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| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Viki | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wahab Riaz (Urdu: وہاب ریاض) was born on June 28, 1985. He is a famous Pakistani cricketer and also works in sports management. Since November 2023, he has been the main person choosing players for the Pakistan national cricket team.
Wahab Riaz is known as a left-arm fast bowler and a right-handed batsman. He could bowl very fast, often around 144 kilometers per hour (90 mph). Sometimes, his bowling speed even reached 154 kilometers per hour (96 mph)! His great performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 made him famous around the world. He stopped playing international cricket in August 2023.
Contents
About Wahab Riaz's Early Life
Wahab Riaz was born in Lahore, Pakistan, on June 28, 1985. His father, Sheikh Sikandar Riaz, was a businessman.
Wahab went to a well-known school called Aitchison College, Lahore.
He is married to Zainab Chaudhary. They have three children: two daughters named Eshal (born 2015) and Hoorain (born 2020), and a son named Sikandar (born 2023). His son is named after his late father.
Wahab Riaz's Cricket Journey
Wahab Riaz started his international cricket career in 2008. He played in different types of matches for Pakistan.
Starting in T20 and Test Cricket
Wahab was picked for Pakistan's T20 team in a series in Bangladesh. In his first match against Bangladesh, he took 3 wickets.
He played his first Test match against England in 2010. In that game, he took 5 wickets for 63 runs in England's first turn at batting. He also scored 27 runs for Pakistan.
Later in 2010, Wahab played against South Africa. He took two important wickets before getting injured. This injury stopped him from playing more matches in that series.
World Cup and County Cricket
In March 2011, Wahab played a big role in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. He took 5 wickets in the semi-final match against India. This was a very important game for Pakistan.
After the World Cup, he played against the West Indies. He took 7 wickets in the One Day International (ODI) series, becoming Pakistan's top wicket-taker.
Wahab also played for Kent in England. He made his T20 debut for Kent in June 2011. In one match, he took a hat-trick (three wickets in a row) and finished with 5 wickets for only 17 runs. This helped his team win.
Later Career Highlights
In April 2018, Wahab was part of the Punjab squad for the 2018 Pakistan Cup. He was also a top wicket-taker in the 2019 Pakistan Cup, getting 10 wickets in 5 matches.
In June 2020, he was chosen for Pakistan's tour to England. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to wait to join the team.
Wahab Riaz at the Cricket World Cups
Wahab Riaz played a key role for Pakistan in two Cricket World Cups.
2015 Cricket World Cup Performance
Wahab was part of Pakistan's team for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. He took 1 wicket each against India and West Indies.
He had an amazing game against Zimbabwe. He scored 54 runs without getting out and took 4 wickets. He also took 3 wickets against South Africa and Ireland.
In the quarter-final against Australia, he bowled very aggressively. He took the wicket of Australian captain Michael Clarke. His bowling in this match was praised by many famous cricketers. They called it one of the best bowling performances they had seen.
2019 Cricket World Cup Performance
Wahab was also selected for Pakistan's team in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He played in 8 games and took 11 wickets.
During this tournament, he became Pakistan's second-highest wicket-taker in World Cup history. He went past the record of the legendary Imran Khan.
Wahab Riaz's T20 Franchise Career
Wahab Riaz has played for many different teams in T20 cricket leagues around the world.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) Success
He was a top player in the 2016 Pakistan Super League players draft. The team Peshawar Zalmi bought him for $140,000.
In 2016, he had a small disagreement with another player, Ahmed Shehzad, during a match. Both players were fined by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Peshawar Zalmi kept him for the 2017 PSL season, which they won. Wahab Riaz is the leading wicket-taker in PSL history. In February 2022, he took his 100th wicket in the PSL, becoming the first player to reach this milestone.
Playing Around the World
Wahab has played for many other T20 teams:
- Kandahar in the 2018–19 Afghanistan Premier League
- Brampton Wolves in the 2019 Global T20 Canada
- Cape Town Blitz in the 2019 Mzansi Super League
- Dhaka Platoon in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League
- Kandy Tuskers in the 2020 Lanka Premier League
- St Lucia Zouks in the 2021 Caribbean Premier League
- Jaffna Kings in the 2021 Lanka Premier League
- Northern Superchargers in The Hundred in England (2022 season)
In January 2023, while playing for the Khulna Tigers in the 2022–23 Bangladesh Premier League, he became the first Pakistani bowler to take 400 wickets in T20 matches.
Wahab Riaz's Political Role
In January 2023, Wahab Riaz was appointed as the sports minister in the Punjab government. He later became an Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab for sports and youth affairs on March 22, 2023. This role allowed him to help with sports and youth activities in the region.
See also
- List of Pakistan cricketers who have taken five-wicket hauls on Test debut
