Wahab Riaz makes himself available for Test selection in upcoming England tour

Veteran left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz has conveyed to Pakistan team head coach Misbah-Ul-Haq that he is ready to make a return to Test cricket if his services are required during England tour. While Mohammad Aamir had anunced his retirement from Test cricket last year to focus on white-ball formats, Wahab had taken an indefinite break from red-ball cricket.

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'He will be available to play': Misbah-ul-Haq

"Yes I spoke to Wahab about this and he said if needed, he will be available to play Test matches in England," Misbah said.  "Hopefully five weeks training camp and practice games we have in England before first test will allow all bowlers to settle down and also get used to new SOPs like t using saliva to shine ball, avoiding celebrations after taking a wicket, etc.

"It is t easy for a pace bowler in particular to get back into rhythm after three months of t playing cricket or nets at all," Misbah said.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn't include Wahab and Aamir in new central contracts list anunced recently.
Misbah said reason for including 10 pace bowlers and four spinners in extended squad was that bowlers would require most time to adjust to new playing conditions because of Covid-19 protocols. 

"Hopefully five weeks training camp and practice games we have in England before first test will allow all bowlers to settle down and also get used to new SOPs like t using saliva to shine ball, avoiding celebrations after taking a wicket etc. Riaz, who has played 27 Tests, last played in a five-day game in October 2018 against Australia in UAE.
Aamir has pulled out of tour as his wife is expected to give birth to ir second child around August but Wahab was named on Friday in 29-member squad anunced for full tour, starting next month.

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Pakistan tour of England 2020

1992 World Cup winners will be touring England for a three-match Test series that will be followed by a three-match T20I series from July 30 to September 2, 2020. Meanwhile, PCB  also anunced that spin legend Mushtaq Ahmed has been named as bowling coach for upcoming tour while former captain as well as batting great Younis Khan has been appointed as batting coach. 

Earlier in week, PCB canceled a players’ training camp at National Cricket Academy due to increase in cases of COVID-19 in country. PCB had said that taking into account COVID-19 outlook in Pakistan in coming weeks, operational and logistical matters as well observation that keeping players in a safe and secure environment would remain a challenge, which is why PCB decided t to hold a training camp prior to ir departure for England. Instead, PCB asked ECB to prepare an itinerary which allows Pakistan team to reach London early in June. squad was originally scheduled to land in UK on July 6.

(With PTI Inputs)

(Im Courtesy: AP)