5 veterans who should retire from international cricket

Parting with the game that you love, the game that gave you everything when you didn’t have any, can be a tough task for many. Players who decide to take a call it a day on their international career, do so with really heavy hearts. Just like JP Duminy did recently, many players tell that it is tough but at the end of the day, they just have to.

But, it’s not that often that players do get the choice to take their own decisions. Sometimes it’s just the right time to announce their decision. It is often said that it is better to retire when the fans ask why, rather than when. Some people learn it the harsh way and some are wise enough to make the call at the right time.

So, here’s the list of five such players for whom, the time is right to walk away from the sport:

1. Shoaib Malik

The 37-year-old all-rounder from Pakistan, a batting mainstay and regular wicket-taker with the ball Shoaib Malik has had an illustrious career while playing for Pakistan. Having made his debut almost two decades ago, he is well past his heydays and it shows on the field. His mind has been writing cheques that his body can’t cash anymore.

Shoaib in his days has seen it all and has been all. All the way from a capable opener, a No.3 batsman to a ferocious slogger, he was a perfect fit in every role that he was assigned. With over 10,000 runs in international cricket and 200+ wickets, Shoaib can appropriately be termed as a once-in-a-lifetime player. There is no doubt that the likes of Jacques Kallis and others have been more successful on the stat sheet than Shoaib, but he was something that every team wanted.

But, after the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, the world is yet to see him back in the greens. Having played over 500 international matches, there is hardly anything that Shoaib can complain about. And, with age ticking in, his days on the field are numbered, making it a perfect time for him to retire from international cricket.