Cricket News

‘Pant cricketer achha hai but..’- Pakistan bowler Wahab Riaz wants Pakistan to emulate India after their disappointing 20-20 World Cup start

Pakistan faced a humiliating defeat against Zimbabwe in their second match at the 20-20 World Cup. What followed was a meltdown from the Pakistan fans and former players alike. Many have so far criticised Pakistan’s performance and their team selection following two back-to-back defeats.

Wahab Riaz, Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker is the latest to let his views known on the issue. Speaking with 24 News HD, the pacer has spoken against Pakistan cricket’s selection process.

“Agar aapka system strong hoga, toh ye baatein nahi hogi. Strong kaun karta hai? Jo hold karta hai. Ek selection ka process ye hai ki chaahe vo Amir ho, ya Umar Gul, ya Shoaib Akhar ya Sohail Tanvir hai, agar aapko criteria diya hai domestic cricket ka… agar usme wo perform karte hain, wo fit hai, toh unko khelna chahiye. (If your system is strong, people won’t complain. There should be a selection process; for example, no matter if it’s Amir or Umar Gul or Shoaib Akhtar or Sohail Tanvir, if your criteria is to judge domestic performances, you have to see whether they’ve performed there or not. If they have, and if they are fit, they should play),” Wahab said.

India made team selection based on their requirements- Wahab Riaz

The pacer then used the Indian cricket team as an example to make his point. He said that Rishabh Pant who is India’s best wicketkeeper batter after MS Dhoni was asked to sit out in order to make a place for Dinesh Karthik. He said that India did this in order to get a finisher into the team because they are focussed on winning.

“Iska misaal hamaare padosi mulk me hai. Rishabh Pant, India ka best wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni ke baad, jisne England aur Australia me sau kiya. Agar wo Pakistan me hota, wo kabhi bahar baithta World Cup me? Nahi baithta. India ne usko bithaaya, Dinesh Karthik ki jagah. Kyun? Unko pata hai Pant cricketer achha hai, but at that particular number, unko finisher chahiye. 2 chhakke maar lega, par agar match finish nahi karega toh ham haar jaayege. That’s the way to go. (I’ll give you an example from India. Rishabh Pant is India’s best wicketkeeper-batter since Dhoni, he has hundreds in England and Australia. If he was in Pakistan, would he sit outside in a World Cup match? No chance. India kept him out for Dinesh Karthik. They know Pant is a good cricketer, but they also know that they need a finisher. That’s the way to go),” Wahab Riaz explained.