Pakistan quick Wahab Riaz on sale on eBay

Cricket is treated like a religion in the sub-continent where fans have extreme reactions to victory and defeat. In one such extreme reaction to a demoralising loss against India in their opening game of the Champions Trophy, a fan has put Wahab Riaz for sale on Ebay. The user is based in Australia as the website suggests.

Wahab Riaz was ruled out of the tournament as he hurt his ankle while bowling the last over of his spell against India on June 4. He had already conceded 87 runs from 8.4 overs which are the most expensive figures in the history of the Champions Trophy. Wahab was equally disappointed with his performance and later tendered an apology through Twitter for ‘letting his nation down’. Pakistan subsequently called upon Rumman Raees as his replacement for the remainder of the tournament.

In a first of its kind, an eBay user in Australia has now put Wahab on sale. He has described the item conditions as “used” and further wrote that the item has “some wear and tear” and is “hairy”.  The reason for ‘selling’ him is mentioned as “I don’t need him anymore”.

As ludicrous as it may sound, people have placed 54 bids so far with the highest being AU $610. In the detailed description, the seller – mrdenn1s – has said that he “bought Wahab in 2008 hoping he could win matches for Pakistan”. This is in reference to the year Wahab made his international debut for Pakistan. The user further stated that “he can intimidate Shane Watson but can’t get them out”. As most cricket fans know, Wahab bowled a fiery spell at Watson in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup but couldn’t get him out.

The user concludes the description as saying that “selling it as I have upgraded to the Junaid Khan model”. Incidentally, Junaid Khan was the one who replaced Wahab in the XI against South Africa and immediately made an impact.

In today’s world, people go to any length to make internet jokes. It is all good fun to read them unless it hurts a caste or community.