Mohammad Irfan, Pakistan’s tallest fast bowler, announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday, becoming the third Pakistani player to retire consecutively.

Irfan, 42, shared the news on the social media platform ‘X’, expressing gratitude for his teammates, coaches, and fans. “I have decided to retire from international cricket,” he wrote. “Thank you for the love, cheers, and unforgettable memories. Pakistan Zindabad.”

Known for his imposing height and bounce, Irfan represented Pakistan in four Tests, 60 ODIs, and 22 T20Is, claiming 109 wickets across formats. Although his last international appearance was over five years ago, he recently participated in domestic cricket, featuring for Khan Research Laboratories in the President’s Cup.

Irfan’s retirement follows announcements from pacer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim. Amir, who represented Pakistan in all three formats, thanked his fans and the PCB, stating, “It has been a great honour to play for Pakistan. This is the right time for the next generation to take the baton.”

Imad Wasim, the first to announce his retirement in this wave, bid farewell earlier this week, reflecting on his journey with pride.

The series of retirements marks a significant transition for Pakistan cricket, raising questions about the team’s next generation and future strategies.

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir once again announced his retirement from international cricket.

Amir left his fans disappointed with his heartfelt retirement announcement via his official social media account on Saturday, December 12, 2024.

The post read, “After careful consideration, I have taken the difficult decision to retire from international cricket. These decisions are never easy but are inevitable. I feel this is the right time for the next generation to take the baton and elevate Pakistan Cricket to new heights!”

“Representing my country has been and always will be the greatest honour of my life. I would sincerely like to thank the PCB, my family and friends, and, above all, my fans for their continuous love & support. THANK YOU,” he further added.

Amir’s retirement came hours after former national team all-rounder Imad Wasim announced his retirement.

He wrote, “To all fans & supporters: After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire from international cricket. Representing Pakistan on the world stage has been the greatest honour of my life, and every moment wearing the green jersey has been unforgettable. Your unwavering support, love, and passion have always been my biggest strength.”

“From the highs to the lows, your encouragement has pushed me to give my best for our beloved country. While this chapter comes to an end,” he adds that he will now continue his cricket journey in domestic and franchise cricket.

It is worth noting that both of the players earlier announced retirements in 2020 but reversed their decisions this year for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. However, the duo was not selected for the team again since the mega event in November 2024.

Wasim took three wickets in three games and 19 runs in two innings during the 2024 World Cup, while Amir emerged as Pakistan’s best bowler in the tournament with seven wickets in four matches.

While vowing to continue his domestic and franchise cricket, all-rounder Imad Wasim on Friday announced retirement from international cricket.

In a message to his fans and supporters, Wasim said wearing the green jersey had been unforgettable for him but after much deliberation he had decided to call it a day.

“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire from international cricket. Representing Pakistan on the world stage has been the greatest honor of my life, and every moment wearing the green jersey has been unforgettable,” he said in a post on X.

“Your unwavering support, love, and passion have always been my biggest strength. From the highs to the lows, your encouragement has pushed me to give my best for our beloved country.

“While this chapter comes to an end, I look forward to continuing my journey in cricket through domestic and franchise cricket, and I hope to keep entertaining you all in new ways,” he said thanking the nation “for everything”.

More than a year ago in November 2023, Imad had announced retirement from the game only to return to the national squad later for the T20I World Cup 2024.

The seasoned cricketer on March 23 declared his availability for the national Twenty20 cricket, saying that he had reconsidered his retirement plans after a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials.

“I am happy to announce that pursuant to meeting PCB officials, I have reconsidered my retirement and am delighted to declare my availability for Pakistan cricket in T20I format leading up to ICC T20i World Cup 2024,” he had written on X.

The 34-year-old Imad made his international debut in May 2015 against Zimbabwe and went on to represent Pakistan in 55 ODIs and 75 T20Is. He took 117 wickets and scored 1,540 runs in his international career.

Imad has been a key member of the Pakistan team over the years and was part of the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning squad. He also played in the 2016 T20 World Cup, 2019 World Cup, 2021 T20I World Cup and 2024 T20I World Cup.