Mohammad Rizwan Faces Backlash After Retirement in BBL Match
Rizwan's Controversial Exit from BBL Match
Former captain of Pakistan and wicketkeeper-batter for the Melbourne Renegades, Mohammad Rizwan, became a target of social media trolls after he was compelled to retire during a match against Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26 on January 12 at the Sydney Showground Stadium.
The Renegades suffered a four-wicket loss to the Thunder, marking their fifth defeat of the current BBL season. They set a score of 170/8 but could not defend it as Sydney successfully chased a revised target of 140 runs in just 15.2 overs, aided by Chris Green's explosive innings of 34 runs off 13 balls, which included three sixes and three fours.
Match Performance Overview
For the Renegades, Gurinder Sandhu was the standout bowler, achieving figures of 4/42 with an economy rate of 10.50 over four overs. Spinner Adam Zampa contributed with two wickets, allowing only 21 runs at an economy rate of 7.00 in three overs. However, the rest of the bowling lineup could not support their efforts, leading to a comfortable chase for the Thunder.
Rizwan's Struggles and Tactical Retirement
The match's focal point was Rizwan's forced retirement while batting in the first innings. He entered the game when the Renegades were at 83/2 following Jake Fraser-McGurk's dismissal. Struggling to find his rhythm, the team fell to 90/4 in 10.5 overs. During a 64-run partnership with Hassan Khan for the fifth wicket, Rizwan managed to score only 18 runs, contributing 28.1% to the partnership.
As the Renegades reached 154/5 at the end of the 18th over, captain Will Sutherland signaled for Rizwan to retire, a decision aimed at enhancing the run rate in the final over. Rizwan's score stood at 26 runs off 23 balls, including two fours, with a strike rate of 113.04.
Record and Reactions
With this retirement, Rizwan became the first overseas player in BBL history to be retired out. His struggle was evident, as his strike rate fell below 115, prompting the tactical decision from the Renegades.
Following this incident, Rizwan faced significant trolling on social media, with fans mocking his slow performance in a T20 match and labeling the retirement as an embarrassment. Many took to their X accounts (formerly Twitter) to express their disappointment, calling it one of the most awkward moments in BBL history.
Social Media Backlash
Fans criticized Rizwan for his slow scoring, stating that he hindered his partner, Hasan Khan, who was batting at a strike rate over 150. Comments flooded in, with some calling the situation a disgrace for both Rizwan and Pakistan cricket.
Rizwan's performance in the BBL has been underwhelming, with only 167 runs in eight matches at an average of 20.87 and a strike rate of 101.82, failing to score a fifty, with his highest being 41 against the Melbourne Stars.