Mohammad Rizwan: “When [the] Pakistan team feel they don’t need me, I will retire myself”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has announced that he will retire from international cricket when he feels the national team no longer need him.
A mainstay in the Test and ODI sides, the 33-year-old Peshawar native has lost his T20I spot despite being a consistent run-scorer. Many have attributed his low strike-rate as the key factor behind his removal from the team.
While it remains to be seen if Rizwan will be given another chance to revive his T20I career, the Peshawar native has no plans to quit international cricket right now.
“When [the] Pakistan team feel they don’t need me, I will retire myself,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Rizwan recently featured in the Big Bash League (BBL), where he scored 187 runs in 10 matches for the Melbourne Renegades at an average of 18.70 and a strike-rate of 102.74.
Since he continues to be overlooked in T20Is, he is not part of Pakistan’s squad for the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Lahore.
He also didn’t make the cut for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Pakistan will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
Pakistan Squad for T20I series against Australia: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Pakistan Squad for 2026 T20 World Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq