Not Just Mohammad Rizwan: Six Batsmen Have Been ‘Retired Out’ in 2026

Mohammad Rizwan recently became the latest high-profile batsman to be declared ‘retired out’ in a T20 match, a rare and humbling occurrence in professional cricket. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman, who was hoping to secure a place in the T20 World Cup squad, struggled in the Big Bash League (BBL), raising concerns about his T20 form.

Rizwan’s BBL Struggles

In a match against Sydney Thunder, Rizwan scored 26 runs off 23 balls before being called back by captain Will Sutherland and officially declared ‘retired out.’ This marked the sixth instance in 2026 where a batsman has been retired out during a competitive match.

Rizwan had been purchased at a high price by Melbourne Renegades and was expected to deliver consistently. However, in eight BBL matches, he managed only 167 runs at a strike rate slightly above 100, hitting just one six. His frustration on the field against Sydney Thunder was evident, ultimately prompting the rare ‘retired out’ decision—a move that may signal the end of his BBL campaign.

Others Who Faced the Same Fate in 2026

Before Rizwan, five other batsmen were forced to retire out this year:

Implications for Rizwan’s T20 Career

Rizwan remains Pakistan’s first-choice wicketkeeper in ODIs and Tests, but his T20 form has been under scrutiny. After being left out of the Asia Cup squad, selectors had already begun overlooking him for shorter formats. The BBL was his opportunity to prove himself, but the string of poor performances—including his ‘retired out’ incident—has likely closed the door on his provisional T20 World Cup selection. His future in international T20 cricket now hangs in the balance.