Wahab Riaz reveals Pakistan’s ‘trump card’ against Australia

Left-armer believes fellow teammate will provide with required edge over their opponents

Pakistan left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz said that leg-spinner Yasir Shah will be the national side’s “trump card” against Australia in the upcoming three-match Test series Down Under.

In an interview with cricket.com.au, the left-armer said that although he doesn’t have any response to questions about Yasir’s fitness, the leggie would provide the visitors with the required edge over their opponents.

“I haven’t got any feedback on Yasir, but obviously he’s recovering well,” said Wahab. “He’s going to be our trump card and we want him to play the first Test match.”



Speaking of Pakistan’s pace attack, the 31-year-old said that every seamer brings in a specialty to the side.

“All the fast bowlers in this squad, they have their own specialty,” he said. “[Mohammad] Amir bowls that in-swinger really well, Rahat [Ali] moves it both ways, I come with the pace, Sohail Khan has a tendency to have a good outswinger, with Imran Khan as well, so everybody is really good and working hard and it depends who gets a chance to play.”

ICYMI: Mohammad Amir delivered a swing-bowling masterclass with the pink ball last night in Cairns!

LIVE: https://t.co/ozTPFkNIVq #CAXIvPAK pic.twitter.com/BytNEw2kU2

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 9, 2016

Wahab also believes that Australian tracks can be heaven for seamers with the innate bounce and pace in the pitch. “It’s always exciting to bowl in Australia because the wickets are really good for bowling as well as for batting,” he said. “They have true bounce and true pace. We like these kinds of tracks all over the world.”



Furthermore, left-arm pacer said that Pakistan would have to rely on their attitude and body language if they intend to overwhelm Australia. “If you’re playing against Australia, you have to be aggressive, you have to be at the top of your game,” he said. “It’s how you counterattack Australia and how your attitude and how your body language is against them because it’s a game where Australia will try and put pressure on you and you’ve got to bounce back onto them.”

The first Test commences with a day-night affair at Brisbane’s Gabba on December 15.