Islamabad:Pakistan left-arm pace bowler Wahab Riaz expresses readiness to come back to Test cricket if the need for him arises on the tour of England later this year.
Riaz was named alongside 28 other players in an extended squad for the tour of England that includes three Tests and three T20Is.Riaz, who had played just four Tests in three years prior to taking an indefinite break from the longest format of the game last year, said that playing for Pakistan was always his "priority".
"The Pakistan Cricket Board communicated with me to play Test cricket (in England), if required, and to play for Pakistan is always a priority so I said yes without even thinking," Riaz said via video teleconference organized by the board.
"The priority was not different last year. I haven't been playing Test cricket regularly in the last three, four years before this management arrived so the priority was to focus on white ball cricket."
Riaz had earlier lost his central contract with Pakistan cricket but he stressed on the fact that playing for Pakistan mattered more to him. "Of course, central contact gives security to a player. But playing for Pakistan is more important to me and I have got this opportunity once again by being selected in the team," he said.
Riaz, 34, also spoke about how, as a senior player, he wanted to set an example in putting the team's needs first."As a senior player, I wanted to create an example because it all has to be for Pakistan, not for yourself and the colour of the ball does not matter."
The left-arm fast bowler has 83 wickets in 27 Test matches at an average of 34.50 after making his red-ball debut in 2010.(UNI)