Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan made an unusual and unwanted bit of history during a Big Bash League match after being retired out despite being neither injured nor dismissed.
Rizwan’s stay at the crease ended not because of a wicket, but due to the slow pace of his innings in a format that demands urgency. He scored 26 runs off 23 balls, a strike rate that proved costly as the innings reached its decisive stage.
Captain takes rare call
Before the start of the 19th over, the captain of Melbourne Renegades made the bold decision to call Rizwan off the ground.
The move surprised fans and commentators alike, especially given Rizwan’s reputation as a dependable run-scorer.
Muhammad Rizwan has been retired out by the Melbourne Renegades 👀 #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/AuTGoTIHqb
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 12, 2026
Adding to the drama, the decision did not immediately pay off. The Renegades’ captain himself was dismissed after scoring just one run, highlighting the risk involved in retiring an established batter.
First Pakistani to be retired in T20 cricket
With this incident, Rizwan became the first Pakistani cricketer to be retired out in a T20 match. The moment underlined the ruthless nature of modern franchise cricket, where even experienced international players are judged strictly on strike rate and momentum.
The episode serves as a reminder that in T20 cricket, occupying the crease is not always enough.
In leagues like the Big Bash, scoring speed often outweighs stability, and even star players can pay the price for slow batting.
