Usman Qadir Reverses Retirement After Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Exit

Usman Qadir withdrew his retirement hours after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup elimination and made himself available for national selection again.

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Usman Qadir has withdrawn his retirement from international cricket, just five hours after Pakistan were knocked out of the T20 World Cup. Pakistan failed to progress to the semifinals after finishing behind New Zealand on net run rate in the Super 8 stage.

Qadir, who had retired from international cricket in October 2024, announced his comeback on social media platform X in the early hours of Sunday. He credited a successful stint in Australia and strong family support for inspiring his return.

“After a period of deep reflection and a successful stint in Australia, I have decided to officially withdraw my retirement from all formats of international cricket with immediate effect,” Qadir tweeted in the wee hours of Sunday.

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He further highlighted his performance in Australia, where he regained confidence in his abilities. “My time playing in Australia was transformative. Achieving 41 wickets and receiving such a positive response reminded me that my competitive edge is as sharp as ever,” Qadir said.

Qadir Reveals Reason Behind Reversal

Qadir also spoke about the emotional and personal reasons behind his decision. He mentioned the importance of continuing his family’s cricket legacy. His father, the late Abdul Qadir, is widely regarded as one of Pakistan’s greatest spinners.

“Cricket is more than just a sport for me; it’s a family legacy. After discussing this with my family and considering my father’s immense contributions to Pakistan cricket, I feel a profound responsibility to continue,” Qadir said.

He added that he is ready to start from the basics and work his way back into the national side. “I am fully committed to the grind and am making myself available for selection across formats, starting from the basics, to serve Pakistan cricket to the best of my ability,” Qadir added.

Usman Qadir represented Pakistan in one ODI and 25 T20Is. He made his international debut during a home T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he impressed with eight wickets for 60 runs across three matches. His performance earned him the Player of the Series award.