Pakistan fast bowler Usman Shinwari retires from international cricket after 34 matches, six years out of the team, and two ODI five-wicket hauls. (Image Credit: The Cricketer)
Pakistan left-arm seamer Usman Shinwari has retired from international cricket after a six-year career that had little fulfillment due to a lack of opportunities. The 30-year-old, who played for the national team for the last time in 2019, confirmed his retirement on Monday, calling an end to his 34-match association with Pakistan in all formats.
Shinwari started his international career in 2013, when he played his T20I against Sri Lanka. He then made a breakthrough into the ODI team in 2017 and the Test team in 2019, with all three debuts against the same team. The left-arm seamer's initial performances created much hype, especially his delivery ability to get swing and bounce with the new ball.
Throughout his career, Shinwari played 17 ODIs and 16 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 34 wickets in ODIs and 13 wickets in T20Is. He also played one Test match in December 2019 against Sri Lanka, which was his final game in national colours. Though the stint was short-lived, Shinwari was in news for his capability to open the innings with bowling, having two impressive five-wicket performances in ODIs.
Interestingly, Shinwari’s standout performances both came against Sri Lanka. In just his second ODI, he ran through the Sri Lankan batting lineup in Sharjah, bagging a five-wicket haul that established him as one of Pakistan’s most exciting young pacers at the time. His second five-wicket haul also arrived against Sri Lanka in 2019, during what would become his penultimate ODI. These moments remain the high points of his international journey.
Though Shinwari also appeared promising, injuries and fitness woes constantly sabotaged his career. After 2019, he was out of favour with the selectors as Pakistan invested in a new generation of pacers, led by Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. Though he continued to appear in domestic cricket and franchise leagues, a recall never came, and Shinwari was kept on the periphery of Pakistan's plans for six long years.
Shinwari was included in Pakistan's team for the 2018 Asia Cup, but his international career dwindled shortly thereafter. His failure to find a place in following teams, even with glimpses of brilliance at the home level, eventually led him to decide to quit. For most fans, his career remains a testament to the intense rivalry for fast-bowling positions within Pakistan cricket.
Shinwari’s announcement comes at a time when Pakistan cricket is riding high. The national team recently lifted the T20 tri-nation series trophy in Sharjah, thrashing Afghanistan by 75 runs in the final. Spinner Mohammed Nawaz stole the show with a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick, underscoring the team’s depth ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, which begins September 12 in Dubai with Pakistan facing Oman.
For Usman Shinwari, international cricket is a tale of unfinished business. Though his statistics two five-wicket hauls in ODIs and a good record against Sri Lanka show glimpses of promise, inconsistent opportunities and injuries kept him from being a long-term pillar of Pakistan's pace attack. His retirement is the close of another chapter in Pakistan's history of fast bowlers whose potential was only half realized.
