4 Players who retired silently after World Cup 2019

For the third time in a row, a home team has been crowned the champions of world cricket. The 2019 World Cup threw up some great games to reminisce about in the future. There were a few exciting finishes at the group stage, only to become more thrilling in the knock-outs. Individual performances with the bat, ball and in the field have taken limelight throughout the tournament. With every team playing 9 group matches, there were a few emerging stars and a few who we might have seen for the last time at the highest level. The world cup was also considered to be special as it was the last one for the likes of Steyn, Dhoni, and Faf. However, there were few other cricketers who in their very gracious way have taken retirement as the World Cup concluded. Here is a list of cricketers who retired silently from ODI cricket after the World Cup 1. Imran Tahir South Africa’s Imran Tahir. (Photo by WIKUS DE WET/AFP/Getty Images) Imran Tahir created history as he became the first spinner to open the bowling in a World Cup. On the second ball, he took the wicket of Bairstow and ran on a customary frenzied celebratory run. Even at the age of 40, Tahir’s energy in his celebration run is very akin to that of a young’un. A late starter in international cricket, Tahir made his ODI debut by the age of 31 in 2011 and since he has been the lead spinner for the Proteas. In the 2011 World Cup, he took 14 wickets in mere 5 games!! Tahir achieved number 1 rankings in ODIs during the 2015 world cup, scalping a total of 15 wickets at 21.53. Although South Africa had a disappointing World Cup, Tahir took 11 wickets in 9 matches to wind-up his remarkable career. The Lahore born leggie has been consistent throughout his career and he retires with 173 wickets in 107 matches at 24.84. Tahir has not given up on his dream of a World Cup as he plans to play the T20 World Cup in Australia next year. 2. Shoaib Malik Shoaib Malik. (Photo Source: Twitter) Almost 20 years ago, Shoaib Malik made his ODI debut against West Indies as a bowler who can bat. He picked two wickets to be fair. But eventually, he turned into a batting all-rounder who has batted from opening to number ten! He has hundreds to his name at 5 different positions for Pakistan in ODIs. He could open and can also act as a stabilizer in the middle order. In the latter part of his career, he was Pakistan’s designated finisher. Malik did everything which was asked of him to do. After scoring a duck in his maiden innings, Malik went on to score 7,534 ODI runs. He also picked 158 wickets with his off-breaks. Malik had a disastrous end to his career as he scored just 8 runs in 3 innings with two ducks. The veteran would still be available for T20 internationals. The 37-year-old received a deserving guard of honour by his teammates after their last World Cup game against Bangladesh. Malik was never Pakistan’s famed superstar, but he was their silent unsung hero for two decades. 3. JP Duminy JP Duminy. (Photo Source: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) Jean-Paul Duminy has been South Africa’s pillar in the middle order for over a decade. Initially, Kallis overshadowed Duminy and then De Villiers, but he always played his part with unmitigated passion. He made his ODI debut way back in 2004, but it was until 2008 where his career actually ignited. Duminy had staggering averages of 59 in 2008 and 61 in 2010. JP was always a gun fielder and provided assistance with the ball. He has World Cup hat-trick to his name against Sri Lanka in 2015. Just like his team, Duminy had a disheartening World Cup this year. In 4 innings he managed to score only 70 runs and had to depart from ODIs after a dismal tournament. The 35-year-old is available for the T20Is and looks to have another shot at the T20I World Cup next year. 4. Hamid Hassan Hamid Hassan. (Photo Source: Twitter) ‘Time to consider health seriously’, Hamid Hassan was pretty vocal about his retirement plans before the World Cup. Hamid, who had a two-year gap in ODIs before the world cup had a career marred with injuries. He grabbed just a solitary wicket in 5 World Cup matches which makes his decision to quit ODIs seem prudent. Hassan was a crucial part of Afghanistan’s maiden World Cup victory in 2015 against Scotland. In 2010 Hamid took 16 wickets in 7 matches and was impressive in the 2010 T20 World Cup against India and South Africa. The 32-year-old will continue to play T20 cricket for Afghanistan and in the domestic T20 leagues. Standing 6’5”, Hassan grew out of ashes to become the first Afghanistani to play at The Lord’s. Against MCC, Hassan returned with figures of 1/23 and took the noticing of Mike Gatting.

4 Players who retired silently after World Cup 2019

These players were bogged down by bad performances before calling it quits.

Here is a list of cricketers who retired silently from ODI cricket after the World Cup

1. Imran Tahir