Zaheer Khan retires from International Cricket, IPL 9 to be last Event

After being ignored by the selectors in the recent months due to injury problems, Indian Test cricketer Zaheer Khan has announced his retirement from International cricket with immediate effect. The news was first tweeted by Rajeev Shukla. “Zaheer khan to announce his retirement today My best wishes to him for post retirement carrier,” he tweeted.

Later, Zaheer issued a press statement and confirmed the news. He also said that IPL 9 would be his last domestic event too.

“As I was training for the upcoming season, it dawned on me that my shoulder may not last the rigours of bowling nearly 18 overs a day, and that’s when I knew it was time,” Khan said in an elaborate statement.

“With immediate effect I bid adieu to my career in international cricket. I look forward to signing off my last season in domestic cricket at the conclusion of the Indian Premier League season 9,” he said.

“The toughest call in a cricketing career is when one has to walk away from the game itself. You almost will yourself and want to push that few, extra miles but then the body, after nearly two decades, decides not to respond,” Zaheer said in the statement.

Zaheer had been at the receiving end due to poor form and injury problems. He last played for India in February 2014 against New Zealand in Wellington. The 37-year-old pacer wasn’t named in Mumbai’s first two Ranji matches. He did not play in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy due to a shoulder injury.

Zaheer played 92 Tests and scored 1,230 runs with a career-best 75. He took 311 wickets with the best bowling figure of 7/87. He took five-wicket haul 11 times in his career and a 10-wicket haul once.

Zaheer played 200 ODIs and took 282 wickets with the career best figure of 5/42. He scored 792 runs in total.