Pakistan’s Sohail Khan retires from international cricket

Sohail Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Pakistani fast bowler Sohail Khan has bid adieu to International and First-Class Cricket. Hailing from the Malakand agency in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)  Sohail made his cricketing home in Karachi. He burst onto the first-class scene during the 2007-08 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy season.

Representing the Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC), he was a force to be reckoned with, amassing a staggering 65 wickets in his first nine matches, including eight five-wicket hauls. His second ten-wicket match haul, an impressive 16 for 189, even shattered Fazal Mahmood’s national record. These exceptional performances paved his way to the international stage, with his debut against Zimbabwe in January 2008.

Known affectionately as “Sohail Pathan”, he was nurtured by the Rashid Latif Cricket Academy (RLCA). A chance in a fast bowler talent hunt after moving to Karachi led him to the Academy, where his raw talent was honed to perfection. The results of this stint were nothing short of outstanding.

Sohail’s journey in Test cricket had its ups and downs. A wicketless debut on a challenging pitch in Karachi in 2009 left many wondering about his future in the format. However, he made a triumphant return in the 2016 Edgbaston Test, showcasing significant improvement in his skills. His remarkable five-wicket haul against India in the 2015 World Cup remains his most remarkable performance in international cricket.

Sohail amassed 27 wickets in Test matches, 19 wickets in ODIs, and five wickets in T20Is. In the First-Class format, he’s a standout with an impressive tally of 516 wickets, while in List-A cricket, he boasts 167 wickets. In T20 cricket, Sohail has taken 158 wickets in 130 matches.

Sohail took to his social media account to announce his retiremen. He, however, confirmed that he will continue playing domestic white ball and franchise cricket.

After a thorough consultation with my close ones, I’ve decided to retire from International & First Class Cricket.

Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me. 🙏

I would continue playing domestic white ball & franchise 🏏 pic.twitter.com/yb8daW6mEx

— Sohail Khan (@iSohailKhanPak) September 3, 2023