Asif Ali and Mitchell Starc Announce Retirement from T20I Cricket

Lahore, 2 September 2025 - Cricket witnessed two notable retirements today as Pakistan's middle-order batter Asif Ali and Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc announced the end of their international journeys in different formats.

Asif Ali bids farewell to international cricket

Asif Ali, who represented Pakistan in 21 ODIs and 58 T20Is, has officially retired from international cricket. The Faisalabad-born batter scored 959 runs, including three half-centuries during his career.

He was part of Pakistan's Asia Cup 2018 squad, featured in the 2019 ICC Men's ODI World Cup in England, and played in both the 2021 and 2022 ICC T20 World Cups. Asif also represented Pakistan at the 2022 ACC T20 Asia Cup and the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Known for his power-hitting, he played the role of a finisher in Pakistan's T20 side.

Mitchell Starc steps away from T20Is

On the same day, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc announced his retirement from T20 international cricket. Starc, who made his T20I debut in 2012 against Pakistan, played 65 matches, claiming 79 wickets at an economy of 7.74.

He featured in five of the six T20 World Cups, missing only the 2016 edition due to injury. Starc played a pivotal role in Australia's T20 World Cup victory in 2021 in Dubai. With his retirement, he leaves the format as Australia's second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is, behind Adam Zampa.

Starc stated that his decision comes as he wishes to focus more on Test and ODI cricket, where he continues to be one of the most feared bowlers in the world.

End of an era

The retirements of Asif Ali and Mitchell Starc mark the end of significant chapters for Pakistan and Australia in the shortest format. While Asif brought finishing firepower to Pakistan's batting lineup, Starc's pace and accuracy made him one of the most lethal bowlers in world cricket.

Both players leave behind legacies that will be remembered by fans across the globe.