Wahab kept awake by England nightmare

Pakistan fast-bowler Wahab Riaz has revealed he lost sleep over the Nottingham “nightmare” after recording the second-worst figures in One-Day International history in England’s record-breaking total of 444 at Trent Bridge.

The left-armer sent down 10 wicketless overs for 110 runs, three short of equalling former Australia quick Mick Lewis’ all-time most-expensive ODI figures of 0-113 against South Africa in 2006 where the Proteas famously chased down 434.

Though that was hardly any consolation for Wahab, who admitted he tossed and turned at night thinking about how Pakistan had conceded the largest-ever ODI total.

“I couldn’t sleep for four to five days and kept reflecting on the reasons for my disastrous performance,” he told the Express Tribune about the match which Pakistan lost by 169 runs.

“I am never afraid of conceding runs, but that game was perhaps a turning point and made me reflect on things.”

“The Nottingham game was a nightmare for me and the entire team.”

Following Pakistan’s 4-1 ODI series defeat, Wahab dusted himself off to take 3-18 in their nine-wicket T20 International win against England in Manchester.

It was a typically rapid bounce-back from the mercurial seamer, who suggested his return to form was aided by the guidance of former Pakistan allrounder and now national bowling coach Azhar Mahmood.

“I am really happy that I roared back at Old Trafford,” Wahab said of his man-of-the-match T20I performance.

“Mahmood worked tirelessly with me and gave me a plan to follow.

“Before the T20I, we devised a strategy and I am really happy that I succeeded in executing the plans.

“Other than that one game, the tour was really good for me.”

Wahab looms as a key figure in Pakistan’s bowling attack for their tour of Australia this summer.

The 31-year-old picked up 10 wickets at 36 in the thrilling Test series against England, the 2-2 series draw helping Pakistan dethrone Australia as the No.1 ranked Test side in the world.

And while Misbah-ul-Haq’s men have been superb in the longest format of the game in recent years, Pakistan inexplicably remain a lowly ninth in the ODI rankings and seventh in T20Is.

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But Wahab believes a change of fortune in limited-overs cricket isn’t far off.

 “We did very well in the Tests and although we couldn’t win the ODIs, we learned some important lessons and will definitely improve our performance in the format soon.

“The T20I win is of course a cherished memory to end the tour with.”