In a highly unusual moment during the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, Pakistan star Mohammad Rizwan was retired out by the Melbourne Renegades in their match against the Sydney Thunder, drawing strong reactions from fans and cricket followers online.
The incident took place on January 12, 2026, at the Sydney Showground Stadium, where Rizwan was asked to leave the field midway through the Renegades’ innings to make way for captain Will Sutherland. This unconventional call — known as “retired out” — is rare in professional T20 cricket and sparked debate across social media platforms.
What Happened in the Game
Rizwan, who came in to bat for the Renegades, had scored 26 runs off 23 balls when the captain signalled for him to return to the pavilion in the closing stages of the innings. Footage shared on social media showed the moment Sutherland gestured to Rizwan to step off the field, ending his innings before the scheduled conclusion.
The unusual decision triggered strong responses online, with many fans describing the tactic as controversial and humiliating, while others saw it purely as a strategic move to boost the scoring rate late in the innings.
Rizwan’s BBL Form and Reaction
Rizwan has struggled during the current BBL season, managing just 167 runs in eight matches without reaching a half-century, prompting the Renegades’ management to seek quick runs in the latter overs.
The retired-out episode made Rizwan one of the few players in BBL history to be dismissed in this way, and he became the first Pakistan batter to leave the field under this rule in the competition’s history.
Fans took to social platforms to express their views, with some criticizing the decision as disrespectful to the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter, while others argued it reflected modern T20 cricket’s emphasis on aggressive batting and rapid scoring.
Match Summary
- Match: Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder, BBL 15
- Venue: Sydney Showground Stadium
- Rizwan’s Score: 26 runs from 23 balls
- Dismissal: Retired out (tactical)
- Result: Sydney Thunder won the contest
- Reaction: Mixed responses and widespread discussion among fans and analysts.
This moment will likely be remembered as one of the more unusual chapters in Rizwan’s franchise cricket career and a talking point in discussions about evolving tactics in the shortest format of the game.
