Wahab, Amir ‘left us at the wrong time’

KARACHI: The way Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz “ditched” the Pakistan Test set-up, retiring from the format to focus on white-ball cricket, ahead of the matches against Australia last year left bowling coach Waqar Younis hurt but not holding a grudge.

“Just before the Australia series, they ditched us and we had the only choice to pick youngsters,” Waqar said.

Amir, 27, gave up Tests in July in order to manage his workload and extend his white-ball career for Pakistan as well as in T20 leagues around the world, while 34-year-old Wahab followed suit in September, taking an “indefinite break” from red-ball cricket.

“It’s not like we have lost a lot, but yes they left us at the wrong time. But anyway, we don’t have any grudge against them. I still feel they have a lot to contribute in white-ball cricket and they should carry on playing for Pakistan,” he added.