Usman Qadir announces retirement from Pakistan cricket: Details here
Usman Qadir, a prominent leg-spinner, has announced his retirement from Pakistan cricket. The 31-year-old cricketer made this announcement on social media, four years after returning from Australia and pledging his international future to Pakistan. "Today, I am announcing my retirement from Pakistan cricket," Qadir stated. He expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country and thanked his coaches and teammates for their unwavering support throughout his career.
Qadir's international journey and early career highlights
Qadir's international career began with a T20I home series against Zimbabwe, where he made an impressive debut by claiming eight wickets for 60 runs in three matches. This performance earned him the Player of the Series title. At the height of his career, Qadir was regarded as Pakistan's leading leg-spinner, even briefly overshadowing Shadab Khan in the T20I squad. Prior to his commitment to Pakistan cricket in 2018, he had expressed interest in representing Australia internationally.
Qadir's Australian stint and return to Pakistan
Qadir debuted for Western Australia in 2018 and played for the Perth Scorchers as well as Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL). However, his career in Australia was marked by inconsistent performances and disciplinary issues. In late 2019, he was unexpectedly named in a Pakistan squad for a series in Australia by Misbah-ul-Haq. This selection came just weeks after the sudden death of his father, Abdul Qadir, which played a significant role in his decision to commit to Pakistan cricket.
Qadir's final appearances and dispute with PCB
Qadir's last appearance for Pakistan was at the Asian Games in October 2023. His relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been strained over the past year due to allegations of mismanagement of his injury in May. "As I step into this new chapter, I will be continuing my dad's legacy, embracing both my love for cricket and the lessons he instilled in me," Qadir said while announcing his retirement.
Qadir's T20I and PSL performances
In addition to his international career, Qadir also played in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for two teams. He took 16 PSL wickets from 15 matches at 29.56. Despite only taking one wicket in his solitary ODI appearance against South Africa at Centurion in 2021, he was effective in T20Is. Over 25 matches, he claimed 31 wickets at an average of 18.48 and an economy rate of 7.95.
