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Wahab Riaz joined as the caretaker Sports Minister of Pakistan's Punjab Province. He last played for Pakistan in December 2020. The 38-year-old will continue to play franchise cricket across the globe but he has finally stepped off from the International Cricket. In his international career, Wahab has played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 36 T20Is, picking a total of 237 wickets across all formats. Wahab Riaz announced his decision to bid farewell to international cricket and thanked everyone associated with him in his journey. Riaz is the leading wicket-taker in the PSL with 113 wickets. He is the only bowler to breach the 100-wicket mark.
"Stepping off the international pitch. After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me. Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise cricket!" Wahab tweeted. He also revealed that he has been thinking about his retirement for the past two years.
🏏 Stepping off the international pitch
🌟 After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me. 🙏
Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise…
— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) August 16, 2023
"I have been speaking about my retirement plans past two years, that 2023 is my target to retire from International cricket, and I feel comfortable now more than ever that I have served my country and National team to the best I could have. It has been an honor and a privilege to represent Pakistan on the international stage. As I bid farewell to this chapter, I am thrilled to embark on a new adventure in franchise cricket, where I hope to entertain and inspire audiences while competing against some of the best talents in the world," he said in a detailed statement.