Wahab Riaz joins elusive list of T20 bowlers

Pacer Wahab Riaz has become the first Pakistan cricketer to take 400 wickets in T20 cricket.

The left-armer achieved the feat during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) while playing for Khulna Tigers.

Riaz is the sixth bowler overall to take 400 wickets in T20 cricket and the second pacer after Dwayne Bravo.

The other bowlers with over 400 wickets in T20 cricket include Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, Imran Tahir and Shakib Al Hassan.

In the match against Chattogram Challengers on Friday, Riaz claimed figures of 4-36 in four overs to go past the 400-wicket mark.

The 37-year-old has featured in 335 matches and has taken 401 wickets at an average of 22.25 and economy rate of 7.48. He has thrice taken a five-wicket haul with best figures of 5-8.

Riaz has also played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20Is over the course of his international career with more than 200 wickets.

The speedster made his international debut in 2008 but has been out of the national side since 2020.

Riaz is currently the highest wicket-taker in BPL with 11 wickets in five matches.

Earlier, Riaz had announced that he will retire from international cricket after World Cup 2023 in India.

“Everyone has to say goodbye to cricket one day. But my target is to carry on playing until the 2023 World Cup, that is, if I remain fully fit and my passion for the game remains strong as well. Obviously, if I am performing I will carry on,” Wahab said.

The bowler said he is playing in a couple of leagues, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and is bowling well, hence he has decided to keep playing international cricket till 2023.

Riaz said he believes age does not matter as long as an individual keeps fit and performs for his/her team.

“Fitness levels, diet and all these things have improved a lot in modern-day cricket so times have changed," he said. 

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