Retirement is an emotional milestone for cricketers, signaling the end of a rewarding journey. However, some players have made a surprising U-turn, returning to the game after stepping away. While some comebacks revitalized their careers, others led to forgettable moments. Here are seven cricketers who returned after retirement.
Carl Hooper
Carl Hooper, the former West Indies skipper, shocked many by retiring just three weeks before the ICC World Cup 1999. After a brief hiatus in Adelaide, he made a surprising return in 2001, captaining the team and achieving his 100th Test cap and 200th ODI cap. Although he led the West Indies in the 2003 World Cup, he retired for good afterward, leaving behind an impressive legacy as one of cricket’s underrated all-rounders.
Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen, an enigmatic figure and poster boy of English cricket, scored over 8,000 Test runs. Known for his breathtaking strokes, he also faced several controversies. In 2011, he announced his retirement from white-ball cricket to focus on Tests, but within 60 days, he reversed this decision, rejoining the ODI and T20I squads. Holding the record for the fastest Englishman to reach 2,000 ODI runs, he accumulated 4,440 runs before his career ended abruptly. Following retirement, Pietersen transitioned to a full-time commentator, sharing his insights during the 2019 World Cup.
Brendan Taylor
Brendan Taylor is regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s greatest batters, being the nation’s second-highest run-scorer in ODIs. He made a sensational return to international cricket after initially retiring post his brilliant hundred against India in the 2015 World Cup. Taylor was signed by Nottinghamshire but struggled under pressure and cited personal reasons for his release in 2017, making him eligible to play for Zimbabwe again. Unfortunately, upon his return, he couldn’t replicate his previous form and ended his career just 102 runs shy of surpassing Andy Flower as Zimbabwe’s highest ODI run-scorer.
Javagal Srinath
Srinath, India’s second-highest ODI wicket-taker with 315 scalps, is regarded as one of the nation’s greatest seamers. After unexpectedly retiring from Tests in 2002, he was persuaded by captain Sourav Ganguly to return for the 2003 World Cup. Srinath excelled, taking 16 wickets at an average of 23.06, before retiring following India’s loss to Australia in the final.
Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi, a former Pakistani captain, is known for his frequent retirements and comebacks. He initially retired from Test cricket in 2006 but reversed his decision shortly after. After one final Test in 2010, he announced his retirement again. He stepped back from ODIs post-2011 World Cup but returned five months later. Afridi ultimately retired in 2017, only to make one last appearance in 2018 for the Rest of the World at Lord’s.
Imran Khan
Imran Khan, regarded as Pakistan’s greatest cricketer, initially retired after the 1987 World Cup. Regretting his failure to win the tournament, he returned to international cricket at the behest of President Zia-ul-Haq. Khan led Pakistan to its first ODI World Cup victory in 1992, delivering a stellar performance against the West Indies before retiring permanently after the final against England.
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder, recently rejoined the England squad ahead of the 2023 World Cup after retiring from ODIs in July 2022 to manage his workload. Initially dismissing rumors of a comeback, he surprised fans by returning for the ODI series against New Zealand, signaling his readiness to contribute to the title defense.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, a top-order batter for Sri Lanka, announced his retirement on January 3, 2022, citing “familial obligations.” However, just a week later, he retracted his decision, expressing a desire to continue representing his country. His initial resignation was rumored to be due to conflicts over new fitness requirements set by then-coach Mickey Arthur, leading to stricter guidelines for players considering retirement.
Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali, the former English all-rounder, recently confirmed his retirement from international cricket, though this isn’t his first time stepping back, especially from Test cricket. After the 2021 series against India, Ali announced he would cease playing Test matches, feeling out of touch and isolated. However, nearly two years later, with a call from the England and Wales Cricket Board, including Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and Rob Key, he was urged to reconsider for the 2023 Ashes due to Jack Leach’s stress fracture.
Imad Wasim
Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim, who announced his international retirement in November 2023, made a surprising U-turn in March 2024, expressing his availability for the T20 World Cup. He clarified that he wasn’t seeking a central contract and would only play until the tournament’s conclusion in the Americas. Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s delay in confirming his return, Imad’s impressive performance in the 2024 Pakistan Super League, where he had an economy rate of 6.60, suggested he would be a strong candidate for selection. Ultimately, he returned to represent the national team at the global event.
Mohammad Amir
Pakistani pace bowler Mohammad Amir retired from international cricket in 2020, citing “mental torture” as a key reason for his decision. However, following Imad Wasim’s reversal of retirement to participate in the T20 World Cup, Amir also expressed his desire to return and serve the nation. He stated that, after consulting with family and well-wishers, he felt ready to contribute to the team. Although Amir’s performance didn’t match Imad’s level during the tournament, he became a crucial option for the Pakistan Cricket Board, especially with key bowlers like Shaheen Afridi recovering from injury and Haris Rauf sidelined due to a dislocated shoulder.
