Pakistan Fast Bowler Usman Khan Shinwari Retires from International Cricket After Six-Year Stint
Pakistan’s exciting left-arm pacer Usman Khan Shinwari has called it quits on his international cricket career. The 31-year-old announced his retirement after representing his country in 34 matches over six years, leaving fans with memories of his fiery spells and key wickets.
Shinwari burst onto the scene with his T20I debut against Sri Lanka back in 2013. He soon followed it up with ODI and Test debuts, both against the same rivals. In total, he played 17 ODIs and 16 T20Is, grabbing 34 wickets in ODIs and 13 in T20Is. His standout moments? Those two incredible five-wicket hauls in ODIs against Sri Lanka – a stunning 5-34 in Sharjah in 2017 and 5-51 at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium in 2019. These performances cemented his reputation as a Pakistan fast bowler who could swing the ball like no one else.
His Test journey was short but memorable. Shinwari made his red-ball debut in December 2019 against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, picking up just one wicket in a rain-affected game. That turned out to be his only Test match and his last for Pakistan. Earlier, in 2021, he had already retired from Test cricket, citing ongoing struggles with a nagging back injury that kept flaring up and sidelining him.
Shinwari earned his caps in style: T20I cap 58 in December 2013, ODI cap 216 in October 2017, and Test cap 240 in December 2019 – all against Sri Lanka. He also featured in Pakistan’s squad for the 2018 ACC Men’s ODI Asia Cup, adding to his international cricket highlights.
What made Shinwari a rising star? It all started as a teenager in 2013 when he demolished a Misbah-ul-Haq-led SNGPL team in the departmental T20 Cup final. In a match-winning spell, he took 5 wickets for just 9 runs in 3.1 overs, swinging and seaming the ball with pure magic. That performance caught the national selectors’ eyes and launched his career.
Despite the promise, injuries hampered his progress. After his Test debut, he quickly faded from the scene and even lost his central contract with Pakistan. Now, with this retirement from international cricket, Shinwari closes a chapter filled with highs and challenges. Cricket fans in Pakistan and beyond will miss this talented fast bowler’s energy on the field.
