I couldn’t sleep for four to five days: Wahab Riaz

The 3^rd ODI between Pakistan and England saw the hosts slam a world record 444 runs. Among all the Pakistani bowlers, Wahab Riaz was one who had borne the harshest treatment from the Englishmen, giving away a whopping 110 runs during his ten overs spell. Such games where you get treated like an amateur has a rippling effect on your self-confidence.

However, Wahab Riaz, like a true sportsman looked back on track and returned with the figures of 3 for 18 runs in the only T20I played at Old Trafford. The left arm fast bowler, in a recent interview to Tribune Express, states he was happy with his overall performance on the tour

According to Tribune Express, “I am really happy that I roared back at Old Trafford. The Nottingham game was a nightmare for me and the entire team,” said Wahab, before revealing the effect conceding an ODI-record 444 runs had on the visitors. “I couldn’t sleep for four to five days and kept reflecting on the reasons for my disastrous performance. I am never afraid of conceding runs, but that game was perhaps a turning point and made me reflect on things.”

“The credit goes to the bowling coach [Azhar Mahmood], he really helped me, he was very strict with me about the no-balls,” said Wahab. “Because I was resting the last two games, he really worked hard with me.”

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The fast-bowler also had significant contributions in the Test wins at Lord’s and The Oval and said he was happy with his overall performance on the tour. “Other than that one game, the tour was really good for me; we did very well in the Tests and although we couldn’t win the ODIs, we learned some important lessons and will definitely improve our performance in the format soon,” he said. “The T20I win is of course a cherished memory to end the tour with.”

However, Pakistan beat England by 9 wickets in the first and only T20 cricket match between England and Pakistan.