World Cup 2019: Wahab Riaz determined to 'prove Mickey Arthur wrong'

Back in April 2018, Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur had criticised Wahab's ‘work ethic’ and brought up the fact that he had not ‘won us a game in two years

Veteran left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz made into Pakistan’s ODI outfit after almost 2 years. More than his return, his selection in the final-15 for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup raised many eyebrows. Back in April 2018, Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur had criticised Wahab's ‘work ethic’ and brought up the fact that he had not ‘won us a game in two years’. However, the 33-year-old spearhead is raring to go and prove coach Mickey Arthur wrong in the showpiece event beginning May 30 in England and Wales. “I can't explain in words the pain I have gone through, but I don't want to live in the past. That's history now,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Wahab as saying at a press conference before leaving for England on Tuesday. “Now it's about what we are going to do in the World Cup. Obviously, it's the coach's duty to get the best results from the players, and he wants players that can win matches for the team. I also wanted to be in the team, the only difference is I missed two years of (international) cricket. Now I am in and want to prove him (Arthur) wrong and justify my opportunity,” he added. Wahab's last ODI was in the Champions Trophy 2017 against India in Birmingham, while the last represented Pakistan in the Dubai Test against Australia in October 2018. The left-arm pacer has taken 102 wickets in 79 ODIs, including 24 wickets in 12 World Cup matches in 2011 and 2015. “I kept myself fully prepared for this World Cup even knowing that I am nowhere near the team. I even had dreams I was meeting Mickey Arthur and Sarfaraz Ahmad, and sometimes they would pick me, and reject me at other times,” said Wahab. Talking about his game plan for the showpiece event, the 33-year-old said he will try to keep it simple on batting-friendly wickets in England. “It is important to keep things simple on batting wickets. Variations and reverse swing are key in the death overs. With the conditions dry and wickets hard in England, there will be a reverse swing and the team that does it better will have the advantage. I have expertise in the reverse swing so I will try to restrict the flow of runs in the final few overs,” he said.