Lahore: Pakistan cricketer Wahab Riaz has been selected as the sports minister of Punjab province. The star has been given the temporary charge of the Sports Ministry while he is active in international cricket. Riaz has been out of the Pakistan team for a long time due to his poor form.
The left-arm fast bowler, who is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, will be sworn in after returning to Pakistan. Wahab last played for Pakistan in 2020. He played for Pakistan in 27 Tests, 92 ODIs and 36 T20Is. He is the leading wicket-taker in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with 103 wickets. Wahab plays for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL.
Wabah will continue to play in the PSL even if he is a minister. Wahab has been put in charge till the elections are held in Punjab province. There are reports that elections will be held here in the next two to three months. Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Wahab revealed that the former Pakistan selector and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not do justice to him and senior players like Shuhaib Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
This is followed by the actor’s sudden entry into politics. Wahab is not the first person to cross over from cricket to politics in Pakistan. Former hero Imran Khan became the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Another pacer, Sarfaraz Nawaz, was the Sports Minister in Benazir Bhutto’s government.