KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi’s left-arm fast bowler, Wahab Riaz, vouched to recast the spell which left former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson clueless in the 2015 World Cup quarter final, adding that his priority would be to play “for the team first.”
“I have set some bars for my performances because people want me to do the same thing as I had done in 2015. Obviously, I want to clear that. I want to do it again. My priority would be to perform for the team,” Riaz told Arab News earlier this week.
Riaz bowled one of the most ferocious overs in World Cup history helping Pakistan beat Australia in Adelaide on March 19.
Watson, who is representing Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions, the Quetta Gladiators, this year was up against the Zalmis for their second match at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday.
The Zalmis almost chased the Karachi Kings’ impressive target of 202 runs on Friday, with Riaz saying that the batting line had become strong after the inclusion of senior batsman, Shoaib Malik.
“I think the limitations were in the last four seasons, because our middle order was not that strong. But after having Shoaib Malik in the team, and the way he has been performing all around the world, I think it’s amazing to have him in the team,” Riaz said, adding that the team had a great combination of players this year.
“It’s amazing that we are getting bowlers who can bowl 140 plus, and Amir is a very sensational bowler. He has got that quality. I think we need to groom these players...and obviously, he is a player who can represent Pakistan in the coming future,” he said in reference to one of the emerging fast bowlers from his team.
Riaz has been a part of Peshawar Zalmi since its inception in 2015 and credits the team’s goodwill to the manner in which the management “takes care of the players.”
“I think the kind of atmosphere we had in Peshawar, it’s amazing ...and especially the way they take care of the players, and the confidence they give to the players. I think it’s not all about money, but it’s all about how the franchise looks after you. So I think that’s the best thing I have seen in Peshawar,” he said.
Wahab welcomed the return of international cricket to Pakistan, which he said gave young players the platform to deal with the pressure, especially in front of a huge crowd, adding in the same breath that he missed playing in front of his home crowd in Peshawar.
“They would love to see their team playing in front of their home crowd. But unfortunately, the grounds are not ready yet. Hopefully by next year, the ground will be ready,” he said.
‘Team first’, Riaz says on repeating 2015 performance against Watson
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‘Team first’, Riaz says on repeating 2015 performance against Watson
- Peshawar Zalmi’s left-arm pacer hopes to play in front of home crowd in Peshawar next year
- Credits stronger batting streak to decision to include Shoaib Malik in the team
Pakistan warn England’s flaky batting to expect a trial by spin
- Pakistan desperately need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out
- A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka, through to the semis with a game to spare
Pallekele: Pakistan on Monday warned England’s inconsistent batting line-up to expect a trial by spin when the teams clash in the T20 World Cup Super Eights.
Pakistan batsman Sahibzada Farhan told reporters that England struggled to 146-9 against Sri Lanka’s spinners on Sunday.
Farhan said that England can expect more of the same from Pakistan’s spinners when they meet on the same Pallekele ground in Kandy on Tuesday night.
Pakistan desperately need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out.
A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka for 95 to win by 51 runs, through to the semifinals with a game to spare.
Pakistan would then need to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights match and hope other results go their way to reach the last four.
“What we saw in the Sri Lanka-England game was that the ball was gripping and England struggled against spin,” said the in-form opener Farhan on Monday.
“Sri Lanka have one or two spinners but we have five in all so we will give England a tough time on a pitch that looks good and will grip,” said Farhan.
Pakistan’s spinners have taken 26 wickets in the four matches so far. Their seamers have dismissed only seven batsmen.
History will be against Pakistan as they have never beaten England in three previous Twenty20 World Cup clashes.
“We are confident and our morale is high,” said Farhan, who scored an unbeaten 100 against Namibia in Pakistan’s final group match.
“We are focused on this match to win and progress.”
Farhan, who tops the T20 World Cup run-scoring chart with 220, said he was ready for the threat of England’s express pace bowler Jofra Archer.
“Facing Archer will not be difficult because I have faced similar bowlers in Pakistan,” said Farhan.
“So if he has plans against me, I also have plans against him.”
Pakistan are likely to bring in spinner Abrar Ahmed in place of seaming all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.
England may name an unchanged side for the fifth match in succession with Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Jacob Bethell providing their spin options.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand are the two other teams in Pakistan and England’s Super Eights group. They face each other in Colombo on Wednesday.
The top two teams will qualify for the semifinals.
