He is the elder brother of Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.
[1] In December 2017, his youngest brother Shaheen Afridi was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
[3] Riaz is a cousin of Pakistani footballer Yasir Afridi.
In 2007 Riaz signed a contract with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and represented the Lahore Badshahs, which put Riaz's future as a Pakistani Test player at risk.
During the summer months Riaz played club cricket in the north east of England for Great Ayton CC, he was a key player as the club won the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League for the first time in its history.