West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase etched an unwanted milestone in cricket history by becoming the first batter to retire out in a men’s T20 International between two Full Member nations. The rare event occurred during West Indies’ chase of 190 against Pakistan in the third T20I in Lauderhill on Sunday.
Struggling to find momentum and clear the boundary, Chase was tactically retired in the 18th over of the innings following a message from the dressing room. At the time, he had scored 15 off 12 balls, managing just two boundaries and failing to accelerate as required in the final overs.
When he walked off, West Indies needed 41 runs from 18 balls. The decision was a strategic one, with big hitters Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder waiting in the wings. Holder had finished off the previous match in thrilling fashion, but this time neither he nor Shepherd could deliver, and the hosts eventually fell short.
Earlier in the innings, West Indies started aggressively but lost wickets at regular intervals. Jewel Andrew and captain Shai Hope were dismissed cheaply, while Alick Athanaze and Sherfane Rutherford fought back with gritty fifties. Despite their efforts, the team ended on 176 for 6, falling 14 runs short of the target.
Chase’s retirement reflects a growing trend in modern T20 cricket where tactical substitutions, once seen mainly in franchise leagues, are now making their way into international play. As teams seek every edge in high-stakes situations, such moves could become more commonplace in T20Is.
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