Aussies should not curb aggression: Wahab
dubai — After the ball-tampering scandal made Australia take unprecedented steps with their cricket board reportedly asking their players to even curb their aggressive style on the field, Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz believes the Baggy Greens should stick to their guns.
“See Australia are always an aggressive team. That’s the way they play and like to put the other team under pressure. Whether it is with sledging or their performance with bat and ball, they have their own style. I think they should stick to it. It is a style that has given them a lot of success,” Wahab told reporters at the end of the four-day game between Pakistan A and Australia in Dubai on Tuesday.
“But recently due to some incidents they have been on the back foot. Let’s see how they will play against us in the Test series. But our focus will be on our own performance. We are not really worried about how they are going to play their cricket. At the end of the day, the team that wins, will have the trophy,” the fast bowler said.
Wahab is returning to the Test team after a one year gap.
“I did well in country cricket and also in the CPL. I have always performed well in T20 cricket. So you can call it a sudden change because now I am coming back to Test
We are not really worried about how they are going to play their cricket. At the end of the day, the team that wins, will have the trophy
Wahab Riaz
cricket, from the shortest format of the game to the longest,” he said.
“And the conditions are also totally different. It will be very challenging for me, but obviously the match that I have played just now has given me good practice. I bowled pretty decent spells. So hopefully I will be ready for the Test series.”
Wahab says Pakistan pacers need to support their spinners in the Test matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“Obviously it’s the best place to bowl if you are a spinner. Our role will be to support our spinners. When the time comes, the fast bowler needs to attack as well. All fast bowlers that have played here have played their part in Pakistan victories,” he said.
Yasir Shah, according to Wahab, could be the match-winner against Australia. “Yasir has always been our match-winner. Our team depends a lot on his performance. Overall, I think it’s going to be a very competitive series. It’s a battle of nerves and pressure. The team that handles the pressure well will win,” he said.