Mohammad Irfan announces retirement from international cricket

After all-rounder Imad Wasim and pacer Mohammad Amir, fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has also announced his retirement from international cricket. The 7-foot-1 left-arm pacer shared the news on his social media, expressing gratitude to teammates, coaches, and fans for their unwavering support throughout his career.  

Irfan represented Pakistan in 4 Tests, 60 ODIs, and 22 T20Is, taking a total of 109 wickets for the national team, earning recognition for his unique height, pace, and bounce. His international journey spanned across significant tournaments, including the 2013 Champions Trophy, 2015 ODI World Cup, and 2016 T20I World Cup, where he played a crucial role in Pakistan’s campaigns.  

Irfan’s final international appearance came during Pakistan’s tour of Australia in November 2019, where he featured in the second match of the T20I series, delivering an economical spell of 4 overs, conceding just 27 runs and taking 1 wicket. Despite Pakistan losing the match, Irfan’s disciplined bowling was one of the highlights of the game.  

In August 2018, while playing for the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League, Irfan bowled the most economical four-over spell in T20 history at the time. Facing the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, he conceded just 1 run and took 2 wickets in his 4 overs, setting an incredible benchmark in T20 cricket.  

Standing at an unprecedented height of 7 feet 1 inch, Irfan’s towering presence made him a distinct figure on the field. His ability to extract bounce and generate steep angles troubled even the best of batters.  

In his farewell message, Irfan acknowledged the challenges and achievements of his career, thanking his supporters for standing by him. His retirement marks the end of an era for one of cricket’s most unique fast bowlers.