Wahab Riaz has always been a big performer in the world cups. He is the second-highest for Pakistan in ODI World Cups. The 50-over world cup has always been a big platform for Wahab, where he has always performed his best. He has represented Pakistan in 3 ODI World Cups so far in which he took 35 wickets at an average of 26.45.

Overall, he has 83 Test wickets, 34 T20Is, and 120 ODI wickets. He is only the second left-arm Pakistan bowler to take 100 ODI wickets.

Let’s dig in and look at some of his finest World Cup performances.

1. The deadly “Spell” to Watson

Australia (216-4) beat Pakistan (213 all out) by 6 wickets

If there had to be a top Wahab moment, it would be this one. Wahab vs Watson.

Pakistan batted first and managed to score only 213. But when Wahab came to bowl, he was on fire. He first bounced out David Warner, who was caught at deep third man, and then Michael Clarke at short leg.

Shane Watson entered and Wahab from ball one gave Watson a fiery start. He bowled short balls to Watson, hoping to keep him unsettle and bounce him out as he did to the other two. The plan went perfectly until the ball got dropped by Rahat Ali at deep fine leg. That drop cost Pakistan the world cup as Australia cruised to an uncomfortable victory by six wickets.

Michael Clarke called it “one of the fastest spells” he has seen. Wahab’s figures of 2-54 may look ordinary, but those who have watched the game will remember this fiery spell for a long time.

2. The 5 against Arch-Rivals

India (260-9) beat Pakistan (231 all out) by 29 runs

Wahab was playing his just fifth World Cup match. Pakistan was playing against their arch-rivals India in the biggest stage of the tournament. In this match, Wahab took his first and only five-wicket haul to date with figures of 5-46.

Virender Sehwag was his first wicket, who went smashing the bowlers early in the powerplay. Wahab had him LBW. He then picked the wicket of Virat Kohli, nicking him to point. He dismissed MS Dhoni, who was LBW as well. Then got the wicket of Zaheer Khan, caught behind.

The highlight of his wicket was Yuvraj Singh. After the wicket of Virat Kohli, Yuvraj was clean bowled for the first ball. That ball was reversed in-swing yorker that rattled the stumps.

Apart from a strong performance from Wahab that kept India to 260, Pakistan lost the game by 29 runs as their batting did not click to chase the target down. But Wahab’s performance was remembered. 

3. Upsetting the Hosts

Pakistan (348-8) beat England (334-9) by 14 runs

Before the 2019 World Cup and the England vs Pakistan series, Wahab was left out from the original XV squad. He last played an ODI match on June 4th, 2017, where Pakistan lost to India in the Champions Trophy match as he returned a figure of 0-82 in 8.4 overs before he was ruled out due to injury.

However, after the England vs Pakistan series, Wahab was recalled into the side for the major tournament and he was determined to prove Mickey Arthur wrong, who in 2018 said that Wahab “did not win us a game for two years”.

Pakistan did not win a single game in their last 12 matches. And they were up against England. Pakistan posted 348, their second-highest World Cup total. And as Pakistan defended, Wahab did his part. Though he was expensive going 8 and over, Wahab picked three vital wickets and took a good catch to helped Pakistan win by 14 runs and kick their World Cup campaign on.

4. All-Round show against Zimbabwe

Pakistan (235-7) beat Zimbabwe (215 all out) by 20 runs

Pakistan had lost to India and West Indies early on. Against Zimbabwe, they were at their worst. But  Wahab played a crucial all-rounder role to lift Pakistan.

First, in batting, Pakistan was struggling at 155-6 with still over 11 overs to go. Wahab arrived at the crease and scored 54* from 46 balls. It was his second fifty which led Pakistan to 235.

Then in bowling, Wahab picked four wickets in his figure of 4-45 and also attempted a run out which led Zimbabwe to be bowled out for 215. This victory opened Pakistan’s campaign where they qualified for the knockouts.

5. Batting with a Broken Thumb

Pakistan (230-7) beat Afghanistan (227-9) by 3 wickets

Pakistan needed to win all the matches to have a chance to qualify for the Knockout stage. Afghanistan, which did not have a bright tournament, challenged them. Afghanistan managed 227-9 where Wahab picked 2-29 in his run. 

During the batting, however, after the dismissals of Babar and Imam, Pakistan suffered a collapse. They were 206-7, needing 21 from the final three overs when Wahab Riaz arrived. How can we all remember that six he lifted over mid-wicket off Rashid Khan? That six led Pakistan closer to their target and eventually won the game by three wickets. Wahab was playing with a broken thumb on his right hand but gave Pakistan a big victory.

6. Bouncing Out The Proteas

Pakistan (222 all out) beat South Africa (202 all out) by 29 runs (D/L Method)

After bouncing back from back-to-back defeats to back-to-back victories, Pakistan was up against South Africa. At that time, Pakistan had never beaten South Africa in world cups.

Pakistan managed 222 in their innings. Though they had an early success with Irfan dismissing Quinton de Kock, South Africa was steady at their chase. Wahab Riaz entered the attack his early spell left South Africa from 67-1 to 77-5. Though he got a good beating from AB de Villiers later on, Wahab took the final wicket of his figures of 3-45 to give Pakistan their first-ever victory over South Africa.

7. Nearly Winning out of Nowhere

Australia (307 all out) beat Pakistan (266 all out) by 41 runs

After defeating the host England and then had their match against Sri Lanka washed out, Pakistan met Australia at Taunton. Australia was restricted to 307 after they were 146-0. Besides Amir, Wahab Riaz was the second-best bowler with figures of 1-44.

But it was his batting that we all remember. While chasing the total, Pakistan found itself at 200-7 when Wahab came. He scored a sensible 45. However, Mitchell Starc had him caught behind. But it took Aaron Finch almost a whole 15 seconds to take a review and it turned out to be successful. We all imagine, had Finch failed to take a review at the allotted time, Wahab Riaz could have won the match for us.

8. Cleaning Up the Tail with Ease

Pakistan (308-7) beat South Africa (259-9) by 49 runs

This was an important match for both sides. A loss here knocks them out of the tournament. Pakistan posted 308 in their completed overs on the back of the fifties from Babar and in particular, Haris Sohail.

Wahab Riaz picked three wickets for 46, again being the best bowler in the match. Though his three wickets came of a lower order, his reverse swinging deliveries were a treat to watch. At that time, it was something that Pakistan missed at the death overs and Wahab filled that spot nicely.