NEW DELHI: Pakistan players are not enjoying the best of times in the Big Bash League 2025–26 and the same was on display on Monday when Mohammad Rizwan endured another tough outing.
Rizwan was retired hurt by his own team not due to any injury but following yet another below par knock.
During the clash between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades, Mohammad Rizwan struggled to make an impact despite spending a decent amount of time at the crease.
Muhammad Rizwan has been retired out by the Melbourne Renegades 👀 #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/AuTGoTIHqb
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 12, 2026
Walking in at number four, he tried to settle in but failed to accelerate when the situation demanded it.
Rizwan eventually scored 23 runs from 21 balls with a poor strike rate of around 113.
The moment that caught everyone’s attention came when Melbourne Renegades skipper Will Sutherland walked onto the field and gestured Rizwan to head back to the dugout. Moments later, Rizwan made his way off. It was an awkward sight and a tough moment for any batter.
For a while now, both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been under heavy scrutiny for their strike rates in the T20 format.
Here's how fans reacted:
🚨 BIGGEST SHAME FOR RIZWAN IN BBL 🚨
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) January 12, 2026
- Muhammad Rizwan has been retired out by the Melbourne Renegades. The signal comes from Sutherland to retire Rizwan out 😆
- Rizwan's ends with 26 off 23 balls - strike rate of 113 🔥
- What's your take 🤔pic.twitter.com/TjGvUtTpKb
Team management retired out Mohammad Rizwan for batting slow. This has to be one of the most embarrassing moments in cricket history 😭🤣 pic.twitter.com/1zQ8Z1BIES
— Harsh 17 (@harsh03443) January 12, 2026
🚨An embarrassing moment for Mohammad Rizwan as Melbourne Renegades captain Will Sutherland asked him to retire hurt mid-match due to a poor strike rate in a BBL game.🤡 pic.twitter.com/RazF8ScmEf
— MuFFatLal Bohra (@arshdeep3444) January 12, 2026
Mohammad Rizwan has made history as the first Pakistani batter to be retired out for tactical reasons in 20-over T20 cricket. #BBL pic.twitter.com/8dWxt2L7rb
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) January 12, 2026
Rizwan has been retired out after dropping another stinker of 26(23)
— 𝐀. (@was_abdd) January 12, 2026
in BBL today.
Nah man this is so Embarrassing😭😭
pic.twitter.com/bwhAzwrDMi
🚨 Rizwan became the first overseas player in the BBL to be retired out
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) January 12, 2026
Embarrassing 💀pic.twitter.com/reji5NZnB8
In an era where the game has moved on and batters look to attack from the very first ball, the duo has often struggled to keep up with the required pace. Their inability to score quickly has repeatedly put their teams under pressure.