WATCH: Mohammad Rizwan faces embarrassment after Melbourne Renegades retire him out for slow knock against Sydney Thunder in BBL|15

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In a striking tactical move that has sent shockwaves through the Big Bash League, a high-profile international star Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan became the first overseas player in tournament history to be ‘retired out’ during a crucial mid-season clash. The incident occurred on January 12 at Sydney’s ENGIE Stadium during a high-stakes encounter between the Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder.

With the Renegades struggling to find momentum in the death overs, the team management made the ruthless decision to recall their anchor in favor of more explosive firepower. While the move was strategically sound according to commentators, it has sparked a massive debate across social media regarding the treatment of veteran players in the franchise era. Ultimately, the tactical gamble served as a centerpiece for one of the most talked-about matches of the BBL 15 season, highlighting the increasingly cutthroat nature of T20 cricket.

Pakistan’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan saw his difficult BBL campaign reach a humiliating nadir as he was forced to leave the field “retired out” for a laboured 26 runs off 23 balls. Coming in at No. 4, Rizwan struggled to find his rhythm on a tacky surface, taking four deliveries just to open his account and later entering a scoring shell where he managed only 10 runs in 12 balls. Recognizing that the run rate was stagnating, Renegades captain Will Sutherland signaled Rizwan to return to the pavilion at the end of the 18th over to allow for a final flourish.

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The decision to recall Rizwan was intended to maximize the final two overs, but the plan backfired almost instantly. The incoming captain, Sutherland, was run out for just 1 off 1 ball after a straight drive from Hassan Khan was deflected onto the stumps by bowler Daniel Sams. The Renegades, who were poised for a big total after a 62-run opening stand between Josh Brown (35) and Tim Seifert (29), managed only 16 runs in the final 12 deliveries following the retirement. They eventually finished on 170/8, a score that felt at least 15 runs short given the platform. Hassan was the only one to provide genuine impetus in the middle order, finishing with a valiant 46 off 31 balls.

Despite the tactical drama, the Thunder secured a dramatic 4-wicket victory via the DLS method in a rain-interrupted chase. The Thunder were reeling at 95/6 after a clinical spell from Gurinder Sandhu (4/42), but a revised target of 140 in 16 overs set the stage for a Chris Green masterclass. Green turned the game on its head in the 14th over, smashing Sandhu for three consecutive sixes to shift the momentum entirely. Alongside Nic Maddinson (30)*, who hit the winning run, Green finished unbeaten on 34 off just 13 balls.

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