Pakistan players announce retirement to partcipate in the MCL

Ex-Pakistan players Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Hameed, Rana Naved-ul-Hassan, Mohammad Khalil and Humayun Farhat have ‘officially’ retired from all forms of international cricket having last played for Pakistan in 2013, 2010, 2005 and 2001 respectively. The trio is to take part in the Masters Champions League starting from January 28^th in the United Arab Emirates which required NOCs from the respective boards. Pakistan Cricket Board initially refused to issue NOCs to most of the Pakistan cricketers especially those who have not announced their retirement from international cricket. Several cricketers, including Yasir Hameed, who have not been part of the national side for some time, had complained that the board was even asking them to retire from domestic cricket as well, but the PCB officials have rubbished the claims, stating there is no truth in the rumours.

“In view of requests for NOCs from various Pakistan cricket players, it is clarified that PCB will issue NOCs only to those cricketers who have announced and confirmed their irrevocable resignation and retirement from international cricket on behalf of Pakistan in writing to PCB. Such cricketers will, however, remain eligible to play in domestic cricket as per rules.” – a PCB press release said.

The press release further said that the delay and strict approach was in view that PCB thinks that MCL is in direct clash with the Pakistan Super League. “It may be noted that The Masters Champions League (MCL) comprising retired cricketers is scheduled to take place in UAE next month, during the same dates and at the same venues as the Pakistan Super League (PSL). For this reason the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formulated a Policy to govern the participation of Pakistani Players in the MCL. Keeping in view this direct clash in dates and venues and the resulting consequence that any Pakistani players featuring in the MCL pose a direct competition to the PSL and the PCB, the Policy did not allow for NOCs to be issued freely to Pakistani Players wishing to participate in the MCL and instead a criteria was put in place.”

Abdul Razzaq has probably been the best pace-bowler all-rounder Pakistan had produced after Imran Khan. He represented his team in 46 Tests, 265 ODIs and 32 T20Is in a 14-year career. His last appearance was in T20I vs Australia at Abu Dhabi in 2013. He has scored 7419 runs and has taken 389 wickets for Pakistan. He is one of only four players to complete a double of 5000 ODI runs and 250 wickets.

Yasir Hameed is one of only two players in Test Cricket History to score centuries in both innings on his debut. He played 25 Tests and 56 ODIs for Pakistan and was the fastest Pakistani to score 1000 ODI runs until Azhar Ali broke his record in 2015. He has scored 5 centuries and 20 half-centuries in his 3519 runs for his country. His last appearance was at Lord’s in August 2010.

Rana Naved-ul-Hassan has represented Pakistan in 9 Tests, 74 One Day Internationals and 4 Twenty-20 Internationals and has taken 133 wickets in total. His last international game for Pakistan was in the disgraced tour of Pakistan to Australia in 2010 where they failed to win any of their matches. His best bowling figures came in Jamshedpur where he took 6 wickets for 27 runs against India.

Mohammad Khalil, a left arm pace bowler from Lahore, played two Tests and 3 ODIs for Pakistan. His test career has nothing much to remember except that he made his debut in Australia. He was wicket-less in his entire test career and managed only 5 wickets in the three ODIs. Though his last international was in 2005 but in 2011 he made headlines again by making it back to the Pakistan team for Bangladesh tour but didn’t get any game.

Humayun Farhat, brother of the more famous Imran Farhat, played a solitary test and 5 ODIs for Pakistan and is currently the only wicket-keeper in test history to not make a dismissal in his entire career. He was sent in as a replacement to Moin Khan who injured himself during the second test of the New Zealand tour in 2001. Moin’s injury persisted in the following Sri Lanka series. Hence, Humayun was tried out in the ODIs but once Moin returned Humayun never got a game and call-up for Pakistan again,

Updated Post.