'Tried my best, wasn't good enough': Wahab apologises for dismal Pak-Ind Champions Trophy performance

E-Paper | July 31, 2026

Paceman Wahab Riaz took to Twitter on Wednesday to apologise for his lacklustre performance against arch-rivals India in the Champions Trophy, saying he had “let down his nation”.

Wahab, who has now been ruled out of the rest of the tournament, tweeted Wednesday: “My performance has let down my nation and team. I tried my best but it was not good enough. I'm heart-broken as well.”

The 31-year-old left-arm quick was smashed for 87 runs in just 8.4 wicketless overs when the Asian giants met in their Champions Trophy opener at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground on Sunday.

Title-holders India won by the huge margin of 124 runs in a tournament featuring the world's top eight one-day international sides.

As well as repeatedly bowling too short and too wide, Wahab, a veteran of 79 One Day Internationals, was unable to complete his allocation of overs after suffering an ankle injury while falling over in his delivery stride and was unable to bat in the match.

Pakistan's performance was widely castigated, with former captain Shahid Afridi singling out Wahab for criticism.

“Wahab Riaz was once the spearhead of this bowling attack but his performance was a major let down on such an important occasion,” Afridi wrote in a column for the ICC website.

Pakistan now have to beat South Africa, the world's top-ranked ODI side, in their second Group B match at Edgbaston on Wednesday if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Rumman Raees, a fellow left-arm fast bowler, has been summoned as a replacement for Wahab but Junaid Khan is set to take his place against the Proteas.

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anees zed

Jun 07, 2017 05:32pm

Thank you for trying your best. I hope your best effort is not needed again.

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Dexter

Jun 07, 2017 05:46pm

It's a match, he must have tried hard, representing his country. I am sure of this. Let's forget this and move on.

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RIZ

Jun 07, 2017 05:48pm

Wahab please do Pakistan a favor and announce retirement.

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Furqan Hafeez

Jun 07, 2017 05:55pm

Wahab you aren't good enough to be in the team. Thank your stars that Pakistani is going such a dried spell of fast-bowlers that we need to get you in the team time to time. You are just an ordinary thrower of short-pitched deliveries and nothing else.

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Manoj

Jun 07, 2017 05:55pm

It's a sport. You win some.. You loose some.

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Pasha

Jun 07, 2017 05:57pm

While Wahab Riaz was bad in particular, the Pakistan team as a whole performed poorly. We were very happy that Pakistan qualified for the Champions Trophy but we played like a #8 team. Neither our bowling has the sting nor our batting has the depth at the international level. Like everything else in the country, terrorism, security concerns, and corruption is destroying Cricket in Pakistan. We are in decline and only a miracle can save us.

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Jun 07, 2017 06:00pm

@anees zed This is so rude !! Pakistan fans are such bad at losing that any game they lose, the players have to bear the brunt. The mind set needs to change if you want your players to have an iota of belief in themselves. Every team.has to go through a big transition if mega stars leave and Pakistan had a lot of them between 1980-2010.

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Princess_of_DHUMP

Jun 07, 2017 06:03pm

The whole team performed miserably. Why single him out? When did he ever claim to be a Wasim Akram anyway?

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Pasha

Jun 07, 2017 06:35pm

@Oz I don't understand where you are coming from. If a team gives away more than 100 runs in the last 8 overs, could take out only 3 players of the other team, and folds for 164 runs within 32 overs, how would you categorize that team? We don't mind losing but show some spine please. Face it my friend; we are not at par with the top teams at the international level.

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Nadir Aziz

Jun 07, 2017 06:50pm

You need to work very hard on correcting your length. Bowling fast but short will always result in leaking a lot of runs as you do. For a bowler limiting runs in the shorter format is supremely important.

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Syed Hassan Raza

Jun 07, 2017 06:54pm

Wahab Riaz plays with dedication and commitment. At least,he has the courage to apologise. Move on,it is only part of the game.Better Luck,next time.

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Sarwat

Jun 07, 2017 07:00pm

Wahab sahib better resign, in the interest of country's cricketing future.

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Sandhya

Jun 07, 2017 07:30pm

Likes of Zaved Miandad, Imran, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, etc even now would have played better than your current team. They just played club class.

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Kuladeep

Jun 07, 2017 07:41pm

dear Wahab , I am sure you are much better bowler... forget sundays match.. you along with your fellow pakistani bowlers restricted india on 319 [when they are targeting 340-360] , is it not good thing.. pakistan loses due to batsmen

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A pakistani

Jun 07, 2017 07:55pm

Thanks, but please, don't play any more games in Champions Trophy. If 87 runs in almost 10 overs for you is your best performance then please, improve your best to better.

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Taj

Jun 07, 2017 08:21pm

Once again I said that Mr Wahab riyaz or any player is not guilty. Punishment shall be deemed to be Pakistan cricket authority. As well as players are innocent they are trying their best for win

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MAHAVIRSINH

Jun 07, 2017 08:28pm

I don't understand what kind of people there are in Pakistan. They want each and every player to retire. Give some respect.

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Shazad

Jun 07, 2017 08:29pm

@Oz: If Pakistan team was selected on merit, no one would complain. Unfortunately, Pakistan selectors and PCB officials are team of corrupts who do nepotism and discrimination at all level. Hence, it is obvious that PCB, selectors and team would get criticised when they do bad, as people know that many obviously good players are not even given chance while mediocre or even pathetic but connected players keep getting chance after chance (rather a permanent place in team). This is also true that game is game, but then if relatives and friends are sent to represent Pakistan, than that is not game but exploitation of Pakistanis. When team plays for Pakistan they represent country and play for the country, but when a players is in team due to connections than he does not represent country, but representing his own connection. Such players should not expect to get sympathy from Pakistanis.

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RJM

Jun 07, 2017 08:56pm

Cm'on people, give him a break. Cricket is just a game, one has bad days when one just doesn't click. An opener may get out at zero or a baller gets smashed, big deal. Would love to see him bounce back as answer to all his critics and there lies true test of character. Good luck and fight back.

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Pakman

Jun 07, 2017 09:17pm

Wahab glad you feel sorry. Please announce retirement from playing for Pakistan.

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Akmal

Jun 07, 2017 09:25pm

Dear Wahab You were never a high pofile bowler. Only one spell against Australia doesn't make you a competitive bowler. Look at your average and economy rate. You just encashed your fail trip. You shouldn't have been selected. Pakistan have many great bowlers. Your place in team was unjustifiable.

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Awaz...

Jun 07, 2017 09:39pm

You apology is accepted but now please do us a favor.... "Announce a Retirement"

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Shahid

Jun 07, 2017 09:41pm

Mr. Wahab, you know that you have not been good enough since that wonderful spell against Shane Watson. The match against India wasn't the first one where you have faulted. You have been hit for 100 in 10 over not long ago. You must work on your lengths and come back when you are ready for it.

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Hasmukh dave

Jun 07, 2017 09:45pm

Don't be sorry, its sports, better luck next time.

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Dr. Tankra

Jun 07, 2017 10:06pm

@Oz - My dear friend, his inclusion from the very start was not fair. He never was a better bowler than Junaid.

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Jun 07, 2017 10:07pm

Stay home bro.this is international cricket and not club cricket.100% fitness and efforts required.

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Fiz

Jun 07, 2017 10:21pm

If senseless, wayward bowling is the best then we are better without it. Good bye man.

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Sab se pehle pakistan

Jun 07, 2017 10:35pm

Thank you Wahab. Do us a favour please announce retirement at your earliest convenience.

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Bored

Jun 07, 2017 10:37pm

His entire career will can be surmised in that one Adelaide spell - his 15 mins of fame!!

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Dev

Jun 07, 2017 10:38pm

If a person apologises after working hard. You need to give him leeway. None of the others also performed. He had the self realisation and decency to apologise and ask for forgiveness.

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Rizwan Hamid- USA

Jun 07, 2017 10:46pm

Wahab, you know you have been awful for the past 2 years, now please tell the selectors too. Inzi and company seem to be oblivious that you are not good enough. The number of no balls you bowl, alone should disqualify you from any form of cricket.

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Sam

Jun 07, 2017 11:24pm

It just wasnt your day. Get well soon. Compition will be stiff so it will need extra effort to make it back to national side. Entire team went down after first 40 overs of the game.

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Vinod narang

Jun 07, 2017 11:44pm

Wahab please do not worry about these haters. Stay positive and move on, improve your game. Pakistan lost not just because of you it lost because of the coordination. All these haters will not be able to squat if they were in your shoes. Talk is cheap.

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Sherry

Jun 08, 2017 12:07am

No worries mate but whatever has happened is done and dusted now. You can still contribute to Pakistan cricket by taking an immediate retirement and go wherever you want to in order to get rid of worthless remaining life of yours but please do not ever look back at Pakistan's cricket. A humble request.

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Aamir

Jun 08, 2017 12:11am

Wahab is one of the best fast pacers and have played well in many games. Thank you Wahab for taking responsibility. However, I believe its Captain fault not deciding who to bowl and when. Look at Sarfaraz's inexperience decision using Imad in the last over.

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gp65

Jun 08, 2017 01:11am

@Kuladeep "dear Wahab , I am sure you are much better bowler... forget sundays match.. you along with your fellow pakistani bowlers restricted india on 319 [when they are targeting 340-360]" Please note 319 was in 48 overs. Seeing how Pandya and Kohli were firing, they would surely have crossed 340 if they had played 50 overs.

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gp65

Jun 08, 2017 01:13am

@Aamir "Look at Sarfaraz's inexperience decision using Imad in the last over." Amir and Wahab were injured, Hassan Ali and Shadab's quota was over. Who else was left?

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Pardesi

Jun 08, 2017 01:17am

The thing idnt that pakistan lost, its the fact that there was no fight, other weak teams enevitably lose against better teams but they have a plan and put up a fight, the pakistan team that played india looked frightened, scared. Until they get rid of this scared feeling they will never beat India, greats like Imran, Miandad, wasim, inzimum all were never scared. Lack of courage i would say.

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kknayan

Jun 08, 2017 01:54am

It is just a game. Letting down a nation. ??? That is funny

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ample reverence 4 KSA & Pak Army

Jun 08, 2017 02:57am

No need of your apology as you are not culprit. You did as per your class. The culprits are sitting in PCB management who selected you repeatedly

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Azhar Iqbal

Jun 08, 2017 04:37am

The issue with Wahab is his inconsistency. He can bowl pretty well on one occasion and then bowl extremely poorly on another. He doesn't seem to use his brain and doesn't bowl according to the pitch and the situation. He just tries to bowl quick to intimidate the batsmen, which might work on some pitches but backfire on others. His apology and regret doesn't help anyone and can't undo the damage done. He should only be included in the team based on his fitness and performance in future and should not be an automatic selection.

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global citizen

Jun 08, 2017 05:19am

thanks for your services, your stats in the last two years speak for themselves. pace is not everything, I don't see this crazy obsession with pace when he cant swing or reverse it or even hit good lengths. time to move on from him and get in some deserving younger one.

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Ahmed

Jun 08, 2017 06:46am

You are not learning from mistakes. you kept bowling wide and short. You seemed helpless. you are hard worker but not talented. sorry to say that

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Confused

Jun 08, 2017 07:16am

Why single out him? If people drop catches as simple as those. There were couple of streaky shots as well. He is your fastest bowler give him a break....

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Aziz

Jun 08, 2017 07:27am

It's okay.

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imran a khawaja

Jun 08, 2017 08:12am

Wahab, this is not just one time. This is the story of your performance for the last three years.

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anonymousee

Jun 08, 2017 08:48am

No matter what, we will always stand with you Wahab. We know that you give your 100% whenever you play in Team colors. Best of luck for the future and hope to see you back in action. Best of luck Team GREEN.

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PAMNANI-INDIA

Jun 08, 2017 11:28am

4th June, 2017 was not Wahab Riaz Day. Try some other day.

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Kash

Jun 08, 2017 12:47pm

If that's his best then it better he stays out for good

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BEYONDSKY

Jun 08, 2017 01:18pm

Is Wahab responsible for making a total of 164 in reply?

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umar

Jun 09, 2017 09:03am

Apology accepted. Hope you will not be the part of national side again.

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ABDUL SAMAD

Jun 10, 2017 09:41am

There is no doubt he bowled badly and gone for lots of runs but what Pakistan Batting was doing? we saw srilanka chased 322 easily against the same bowling. Blame should not only to him as Pakistan batting is very poor and they cant chase 230-240.

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