CP Rizwan Announces Retirement from International Cricket
UAE cricket captain ends an illustrious career with an emotional Instagram post
A Remarkable Journey Comes to an End
United Arab Emirates cricketer CP Rizwan has announced his retirement from international cricket with an emotional statement on Instagram, marking the end of a significant chapter in UAE cricket history.
Player Profile
Born in Kerala, Rizwan is a right-hand batter and legbreak bowler. As a youngster, he moved to the UAE with his family but returned to India for his studies, playing U-19 and U-23 cricket for Kerala. In 2014 he moved back to the UAE and made his ODI debut in January 2019 against Nepal. One week later, Rizwan made his T20I debut, and in 2022 was named the T20I captain.
In 2021, Rizwan hit his first century for UAE in an ODI against Ireland, considered the first century by a man born in Kerala. He has also represented Gulf Giants in the ILT20 event and it was under his captaincy that UAE won their first-ever T20 World Cup victory in 2022.
Career Highlights
- Scored an ODI century for UAE against Ireland in 2021
- Captained UAE in the 2022 T20 World Cup
- Played 42 ODIs and 18 T20Is for UAE
- Known for his leadership and middle-order stability
- Part of UAE’s historic wins against full member nations
Rizwan’s cricket journey is a story of perseverance and dedication. Hailing from the small town of Tellicherry in Kerala, India, he moved to the UAE in 2014 with dreams of playing international cricket.
His path was not easy, as he balanced a full-time job with his cricket ambitions. In his retirement statement, Rizwan highlighted the challenges of “playing cricket in the night and working full time in the morning 8-6.”
CP Rizwan’s International Career Statistics
| Batting & Fielding | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct/St |
| ODIs | 42 | 40 | 6 | 948 | 109 | 27.88 | 1638 | 57.87 | 1 | 4 | 67 | 2 | 9/0 |
| T20Is | 18 | 16 | 3 | 323 | 51* | 24.84 | 295 | 109.49 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 6 | 4/0 |
| List A | 42 | 40 | 6 | 948 | 109 | 27.88 | 1638 | 57.87 | 1 | 4 | 67 | 2 | 9/0 |
| T20s | 18 | 16 | 3 | 323 | 51* | 24.84 | 295 | 109.49 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 6 | 4/0 |
| Bowling | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w/5w/10w |
| ODIs | 42 | 5 | 58 | 50 | 1 | 1/19 | 1/19 | 50.00 | 5.17 | 58.0 | 0/0/0 |
| T20Is | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| List A | 42 | 5 | 58 | 50 | 1 | 1/19 | 1/19 | 50.00 | 5.17 | 58.0 | 0/0/0 |
| T20s | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
In his statement, Rizwan expressed gratitude to those who supported his journey, including coaches, teammates, the UAE Cricket Board, friends, and family. He also expressed his faith and optimism for the future, ending his statement with “Grateful for the journey so far and excited for the journey Ahead Insha Allah.”
CP Rizwan’s retirement marks the end of an important era for UAE cricket. As a player who balanced professional commitments with athletic excellence, he serves as an inspiration to many aspiring cricketers in associate nations.
His leadership during the T20 World Cup and consistent performances with the bat have left an indelible mark on UAE cricket. The journey from Tellicherry to international captaincy is a testament to his dedication and passion for the sport.