India pacer Zaheer Khan will retire from international cricket on Thursday, according to IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla.
Shukla tweeted from his account saying the Indian pacer would hit the sack today and wished the pacer for his life after retirement.
The former India manager also said he would wish to see Zaheer continue playing in the lucrative Indian Premier League. He also said that Zaheer was his favourite bowler since India’s tour of England in 2002, when Shukla was the team manager.
Zaheer had been the Team India’s bowling spearhead in the last decade and was instrumental in the 2011 World Cup victory at home. His ability to bowl with the new ball and reverse swing the old ball helped Dhoni rotate other bowlers around the veteran speedster. Zaheer has taken 282 ODI wickets at an average of 29.82. His last ODI came against Sri Lanka in 2012.
Zaheer was equally efficient in the longer format of the game. He had taken 311 wickets with 11 five-wicket hauls. Zaheer in his later part of his career was troubled by injuries and last played for India in February 2014 against New Zealand in Wellington.
The 37-year-old pacer was also not included in Mumbai’s first two matches in this Ranji Trophy season. Zaheer played for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL 8 and has represented India in 92 Tests and 200 ODIs.