5 Star players who reversed their international retirement

A player takes a decision to retire from international cricket or from any format after thinking a lot. But nowadays, it has become a fashion for many to announce retirement first and then make a U-turn on it. Interestingly, not only today but making a comeback from retirements has been a norm, though rarely, from the 20th century as well. On that note, we bring you five players who reversed their international retirement:

1. Javagal Srinath

Javagal Srinath had made up his mind to retire from international cricket after India’s tour of the West Indies in 2002. He had announced his decision to step away from the sport as well. But the then Indian captain Sourav Ganguly wanted his lead pacer to play a few more matches with the 2003 World Cup approaching. He convinced Srinath to make a comeback and the fast bowler did so to play three more Tests and subsequently the World Cup in South Africa where India stunningly made the final and finished as the runners up.

2. Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Bhanuka Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka stunned the cricketing fraternity when he retired from international cricket in 2022 at the age of 30. Family obligations were the official reason given by him for his shocking decision. However, his hasty decision was met with disapproval from Sri Lanka's Sports Minister, Namal Rajapaksa. Following his meeting with Namal and consultation with selectors, Rajapaksa reversed his retirement and expressed his wish to play for the country again.

3. Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh cricket was in shock when Tamim Iqbal announced his retirement from international cricket just three months before the ICC World Cup 2023 in a tearful press conference. Tamim took the decision after Bangladesh went down to Afghanistan in a bilateral ODI series. But after an intervention from then Prime Minister of the country, Sheikh Hasina, Tamim took a U-turn and reversed his retirement. Interestingly, even after then, he has not played a single game for Bangladesh.

4. Imran Khan

Imran Khan of Pakistan decided to bid adieu to international cricket after 1987. He did so after Pakistan lost to Australia in the semi-final of the World Cup in 1987. However, he was urged to make a comeback from retirement for the 1992 World Cup and on public demand, Imran reversed his decision and was named the captain of the Pakistan team as well. As fate would have it, Imran led Pakistan to the World Cup triumph, beating England in the final at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 

5. Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi and retirements had a different kind of love story during his career. He retired from different formats several times including his international retirements as well. 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2014 were his several retirement years before he eventually hung his boots from all formats in 2017. He was a swashbuckling batter and also picked up a lot of wickets but more than his achievements, Afridi’s retirement U-turns hogged the limelight in his career.

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