Colin Munro Announces Retirement:New Zealand batsman Colin Munro, known for his explosive batting, has called time on his international career following the announcement of the Black Caps’ T20 World Cup squad. The 37-year-old southpaw, who last played for New Zealand in a T20I against India in 2020, harbored hopes of a comeback fueled by his impressive performances in franchise leagues like the Pakistan Super League.
“Despite the break from international cricket, I held onto the possibility of returning based on my strong T20 form in various leagues,” Munro said in a statement. “With the World Cup squad revealed, it’s the right time to officially close that chapter.”
Munro, who made his T20I debut against South Africa in 2012, played a total of 122 white-ball matches for New Zealand, along with a single Test appearance against South Africa in 2013. He carved his name in New Zealand’s cricketing history with his blistering 47-ball century against the West Indies in 2018, becoming the country’s fastest T20 centurion and the first player ever to score three T20I tons.
His rapid-fire 14-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in 2016 at Eden Park remains the fastest for New Zealand in T20Is and the fourth-fastest globally. While he couldn’t fulfill his dream of winning the T20 World Cup, Munro was part of the New Zealand team that narrowly lost the 2019 World Cup final to England.
While Munro will continue his exploits in franchise cricket, his legacy in limited-overs formats is undeniable. New Zealand Cricket lauded him as a pioneer of aggressive “360-degree batting.” A sentiment echoed by their chief executive, Scott Weenink.
“Colin pushed the boundaries of calculated risk-taking to new levels, changing the way short-form cricket is played,” Weenink said. “We are incredibly grateful for his outstanding contributions across more than a century of international appearances.”