Legspinner Usman Qadir has announced his retirement from Pakistan cricket. The 31-year-old, who returned to Pakistan after a stint in Australia, shared the news on social media. “Today, I am announcing my retirement from Pakistan cricket,” Qadir stated. “It has been an immense honour to represent my country, and I’m grateful for the support of my coaches and team-mates.”
Qadir’s international career included one ODI and 25 T20Is, with his debut coming in a home T20I series against Zimbabwe. His initial performances were stellar, taking eight wickets for 60 runs in three matches, earning him the Player of the Series award. At one point, he was Pakistan’s top legspinner, briefly keeping Shadab Khan out of the T20I squad.
Qadir’s journey to representing Pakistan was unexpected. In 2018, he expressed a desire to play for Australia, debuting for Western Australia and featuring in the Big Bash League for the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder. However, inconsistency and disciplinary issues, including a speeding incident in 2019, marred his time in Australia. Later that year, after his father, legendary legspinner Abdul Qadir, passed away, Usman committed to playing for Pakistan.
His performances for Pakistan, however, remained inconsistent. He last appeared for the national side at the Asian Games in 2023. Recently, Qadir accused the PCB of mismanaging his injury, which strained their relationship.
In his farewell, Qadir expressed a desire to carry on his father’s legacy, stating, “I will continue embracing my love for cricket and the lessons he instilled in me.”
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