Munaf Patel announces retirement from all forms of cricket

11/10/2018

Indian cricketer Munaf Patel has announced his retirement from all formats of the game because of his declining fitness and advancing age. The Gujarat-born pacer had played 13 Tests, 70 ODIs and 3 T20Is for India from 2006 to 2011 when he last played in a T20I against England in September.

Patel has not been a part of the Indian national team since September 2011 and has announced that he is going to hang his boots at the age of 35. Patel made his maiden international appearance for India in a Test match against England in Mohali in March 2006. The pacer was also a member of the World Cup-winning Indian team in 2011 and played a vital role in the semi-final game against Pakistan by picking up two wickets at crucial junctures of the game. He was the third wicket-taker for the Indians after Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh with 11 wickets to his name in the tournament.

"There is no regret; after all the cricketers I played with have retired. Only Dhoni is left! Baki sab done ho chukehain. So, there is no sadness as such. Sabka time khatam ho chukahain, ghumhota jab saarekhelrahehoteaurmein retire karrahahota (everyone's time is up; there will be sadness only if others are playing and only I had quit!)," Munaf told Indian Express.

The 35-year-old will play for the Rajput franchise in the upcoming T10 League which will be played in Sharjah from November 21 to December 2.

"Mera mannaajbhinahimaanraha hai ke cricket chhodoon as I don't know anything else. Cricket hi samaj meinaatahain. (I still can't believe I am quitting cricket as I don't know anything else. I understand only cricket," Munaf said.

He has 86 ODI wickets to his name from 70 games at an average of 30.26 along with 35 and four wickets in 13 Test matches and three T20Is respectively.

"There is no special reason, age ho chuka hai, fitness is not the same. Youngsters are there waiting for chances and it doesn't look nice if I keep hanging on. The main thing is there is no motivation left. I was part of World Cup winning team in 2011; there can't be a greater high than that," the 35-year-old added.

"If it wasn't for cricket, I would have been a worker, a labourer, in some company in Africa. Most Gujaratis from this region go there. Probably, I would have been cleaning and arranging tiles. I never thought I would go on playing cricket for so long," Munaf s

aid.

Munaf Patel announces retirement from all forms of cricket

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