Usman Qadir, a legspinner, has retired from playing cricket for Pakistan.
The 31-year-old announced his decision on social media, thanking everyone who supported him throughout his journey. He expressed how proud he was to represent his country and gave special thanks to his coaches and teammates.
Usman Qadir played one One Day International (ODI) and 25 T20 International (T20I) matches for Pakistan. He made his T20I debut in a home series against Zimbabwe and performed well, taking eight wickets in three games, which earned him the Player of the Series title. For a time, he was Pakistan’s top legspinner and even replaced Shadab Khan in the team.
However, his cricket path wasn’t always clear. In 2018, Qadir had plans to play for Australia and had played for teams like Western Australia, Perth Scorchers, and Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). But things didn’t go smoothly there—he struggled with consistency and even faced disciplinary issues, including a court appearance for speeding in 2019.
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In late 2019, despite not publicly committing to playing for Pakistan, he was surprisingly picked for the national team by Misbah-ul-Haq.
Around this time, Usman Qadir’s father, Abdul Qadir, Pakistan’s legendary legspinner, had passed away, which greatly influenced Usman’s decision to dedicate himself to Pakistan cricket.
While playing for Pakistan, Qadir continued to face ups and downs. He played his last game for Pakistan in the Asian Games in October 2023 and recently played in the Champions One-Day Cup for the Markhors. His relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) became strained, especially after he accused them of mishandling his injury earlier in 2023.
Qadir didn’t share what his next steps would be but said he will continue his father’s legacy and stay connected to cricket. He expressed his love for the game and the lessons he learned from his father, vowing to carry forward the spirit of Pakistan cricket.
