New Delhi: Pakistani batter Mohammad Rizwan was retired out during a Big Bash League match against Sydney Thunder on Monday. The wicket-keeper, playing for Melbourne Renegades in the Australian T20 league, had scored 26 runs off 23 deliveries when he was called in by Renegades captain Will Sutherland at the end of the 18th over.
Rizwan is now the first overseas player to be retired out in BBL history, and only the second player overall this season, after Thunder’s Nic Maddinson retired himself out earlier in the season.
Pakistani social media users were left embarrassed.
We took these 2 clowns to 3 t20i wcs 😭 https://t.co/faiighE571
— Saim (@saim__________) January 12, 2026
“It cannot get more embarrassing than this. Adopt or get humiliated in top level cricket,” one X user named Hassan wrote.
Another Pakistani user named Assad added, “Trust the Aussies to not put up with any bullshit.”
Rizwan, who has yet to score a fifty in eight innings this BBL season, hit two fours and a six in the 23 balls he had faced. When Sutherland called him in, the Renegades’ score read 154-4, with two overs left. Sutherland, who replaced Rizwan, was run out for 1, with the team scoring 16 runs more to end their innings at 170-8. The Thunder won the match under the DLS method with four wickets in hand, facing a reduced target of 140 in 16 overs after rain interrupted their innings at the end of the 11th over.
Rizwan’s form this season has been underwhelming. In eight innings, he has scored just 167 runs at a strike rate barely above 100. The six he hit against Thunder was his first maximum of the tournament. His ongoing struggles have further dimmed his hopes of returning to the Pakistan T20 World Cup squad. Former teammate Babar Azam has similarly struggled, scoring 154 runs in eight innings.
Cricket fans are convinced this marks the death of Rizwan’s overseas cricketing career.
“This clearly indicates & shows Rizwan is “NOT SUITABLE” for T20 format anymore is disgraceful at this level, even the commentators saying that they could have retired him 2 overs before playing slow! PCB Selection committee needs to see where is our players standing at World level,” Pakistani cricket commentator Faisal Iqbal noted on X.
This clearly indicates & shows Rizwan is “NOT SUITABLE” for T20 format anymore is disgraceful at this level,even the commentators saying that they could have retired him 2 overs before playing slow!
PCB Selection committee needs to see where is our players standing at World level https://t.co/EKYald1nC0
— Faisal Iqbal🇵🇰🏏فیصل اقبال (@FaisalIqbalCric) January 12, 2026
Others are busy lamenting the performances of their once star batters.
“Truly visionary stuff from the genius who decided he and Babar should sign up for the tournament,” another disgruntled Pakistani fan said.