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Pakistan's Wasim Akram has announced his retirement from
international cricket after 19 years as one of the world's leading all
rounders. (Photo:REUTERS)
LONDON (AFP)
- One day cricket's most successful bowler Wasim Akram announced
that he has retired from international cricket after a 19 year
career and five World Cups.
The
36-year-old Pakistani all-rounder told Sky Sports it was time for
younger players to get their chance to play for the national side,
with whom he won the 1992 World Cup and was named man of the match
after scoring 33 and taking three England wickets in the final.
"My
future is somewhere else after September (when he finishes his
contract with Hampshire)," said Wasim, who has taken 502 one
day wickets and claimed 414 Test victims making him the only
bowler to have taken over 400 wickets in both forms of the game.
"Maybe
I will be working in television or coaching."
Wasim,
regarded as one of the finest left-arm seamers of all-time, was a
shadow of his former self when he played in this year's World Cup
as Pakistan won just two matches and failed to make the Super Six
stage.
Like
several of the other senior players, who underperformed in the
World Cup, he was dropped for the Sharjah Cup in April and not
selected for the current one-day triangular series against Sri
Lanka and New Zealand.
However,
judging by Pakistan's 12-run defeat by Sri Lanka earlier on Sunday
his decision, even at his advanced age, may be a little premature.
"I
have enjoyed every bit of it," said the veteran of 104 Tests.
"There
are no regrets. There have been ups and downs but I would not have
changed it for anything else."
Only
16 players have taken more than 200 wickets in the history of the
one-day game and four of those - Craig McDermott, Courtney Walsh,
Curtly Ambrose and Kapil Dev - have long since retired.
Furthermore,
of the five men who have broken the 300-wicket barrier, India's
Javagal Srinath retired after the World Cup while Muttiah
Muralitharan of Sri Lanka has hinted he will sooner or later
solely concentrate on test match cricket.
Muralitharan has
a much bigger dream. With 450 Test victims, he has Courtney
Walsh's world record of 519 in his sights and by avoiding the
slam-bang nature of limited overs cricket, he can concentrate his
mind on his real target.
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