Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has ended up on the wrong side of Big Bash League history after becoming only the second batter in BBL history to be retired out.
The unusual moment unfolded during the 33rd match of BBL 15 between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder, when Rizwan was called back to the dugout in the 17.6th over of the Renegades’ innings. There was no sign of injury, and the move appeared to be a purely tactical call as the Renegades looked for late-innings power.
Rizwan walked off after scoring 26 off 23 balls, striking two fours and one six. Notably, it was also reported as the only six he had hit so far in BBL 15.
Will Sutherland replaced him at the crease, but the decision immediately turned into a talking point. Sutherland faced one ball, took one run, and was then run out in a chaotic sequence. The Renegades eventually finished on 170/8 and lost the match via the DLS Method.
Rizwan’s unusual dismissal places him alongside Nic Maddinson as the only two players to have been forced to retire out in BBL history. Maddinson, playing for Sydney Thunder, was retired out earlier this season during Match 21 of BBL 15 against the Hobart Hurricanes on January 3, 2026, after scoring 30 off 26 balls.
The trend is not limited to Australia either. Since the start of January 2026, retire-outs have cropped up repeatedly across T20 competitions.
Retired Out Dismissals in 2026
Player
Runs
Balls
Strike Rate
Inns
Opposition
Ground
Date
Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades)
26
23
113.04
1
v Thunder
Sydney
12 Jan 2026
TJG Pringle (Northern Districts)
5
12
41.66
1
v Canterbury
Hamilton
8 Jan 2026
RJ Chase (Pretoria Capitals)
24
15
160.00
1
v Super Giants
Durban
7 Jan 2026
JA Raval (Northern Districts)
23
28
82.14
2
v Otago
Mount Maunganui
4 Jan 2026
XE Bell (Northern Districts)
9
13
69.23
2
v Otago
Mount Maunganui
4 Jan 2026
NJ Maddinson (Sydney Thunder)
30
26
115.38
1
v Hurricanes
Sydney
3 Jan 2026
