ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz has signed up withEnglish County side Derbyshire in his bid to make a comeback to thenational team.
According ESPNCricinfo, Riaz will be playing the Vitality T20 Blast forDerbyshire, hoping to bolster his chances for a recall to the Pakistancricket team.
The 32-year-old left-arm bowler who last played for Pakistan in October2017, has been criticised by their head coach Mickey Arthur over fitness aswell as form-related issues.
Apart from being excluded from the Pakistan training camp for the upcomingtwo-Test series in England and one-off Test in Ireland, Arthur had remarkedthat Riaz had ‘not won us a game in two years’.
Underlining the importance of high performance culture in the Pakistancricket team, Arthur has said, “I expect players that have been around fora long time to be winning us games and setting standards. The guys need topush themselves and get out of their comfort zones.”
“I cannot fault Wahab when he has a ball in his hand but his work ethicaround training is something [that] needs to be looked at. I am changingthe culture in this Pakistan environment and I am not interested in playersdoing just the bare minimum.”
Despite the criticism, Derbyshire are confident about their signing. Riazhas had a surgery for a sinus problem, and is expected to be available fora huge part of Derbyshire’s fixtures before leaving for the CaribbeanPremier League (CPL).