Last Updated:March 01, 2026, 09:43 IST
Usman Qadir announces return to Pakistan cricket after retiring in 2024, inspired by his stint in Australia and family legacy.
Usman Qadir has made himself available for Pakistan (Picture credit: AFP)
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Usman Qadir, who had retired from international cricket in 2024, has said that he is available to represent the country, five hours after Pakistan were eliminated from the T20 World Cup, after not being able to go past New Zealand’s net run rate in the Super 8s.
Qadir, who retired from international cricket in October 2024, announced his decision to reverse it on the social media platform X, crediting a transformative stint in Australia and strong family support for inspiring his comeback.
Qadir had played just one ODI and 25 T20Is for Pakistan.
“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.
“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.
The former spinner spoke about the personal reasons driving his comeback as well, highlighting the responsibility of carrying forward his family’s cricketing legacy. Usman’s father, the late Abdul Qadir, is 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.
“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.
The former spinner featured in one ODI and 25 T20Is for Pakistan, making his international debut during a home T20I series against Zimbabwe. He burst onto the scene with eight wickets for 60 runs across three games, earning the Player of the Series award.
First Published:
March 01, 2026, 09:40 IST
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