New Delhi [India]: Bangladesh pacer Mohammad Sharif, who last played an international match in 2007, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Saturday, ending a 20-year-long illustrious domestic career.
''I have decided to quit from all form of cricket though I feel I could have played for another two years,'' Sharif told a website on Saturday.
''I am looking forward to work with BCB in the coming days if there is a possibility as I want to share the experience that I have gathered during this long journey,'' he said.
The right-arm bowler made his debut at the age of 17 against Zimbabwe in an ODI fixture in 2001. He went on to play nine 50-over matches for the country and scalped 10 wickets.
Sharif got his first Test call against the same opponent in the same year. He has featured in 10 Tests games and picked 14 wickets.
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Former Bangladesh seam bowler Mohammad Sharif has retired from all forms of the game.
— ICC (@ICC) April 11, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
He played 19 international matches between 2001-2007. He finishes with 589 wickets in competitive cricket 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ei5yvfrt7S
">Former Bangladesh seam bowler Mohammad Sharif has retired from all forms of the game.
— ICC (@ICC) April 11, 2020
He played 19 international matches between 2001-2007. He finishes with 589 wickets in competitive cricket 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ei5yvfrt7SFormer Bangladesh seam bowler Mohammad Sharif has retired from all forms of the game.
— ICC (@ICC) April 11, 2020
He played 19 international matches between 2001-2007. He finishes with 589 wickets in competitive cricket 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ei5yvfrt7S
After a decent start to his international career, he was plagued by injuries and lost his place in the side in 2002, and also shortly after the 2003 World Cup due to a series of operations which he underwent in India and Australia.
However, after being out from the team for more than nine months, Sharif somehow managed to make it to the squad in 2007, when he played his last international match against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
The 34-year-old had an amazing record in the first-class cricket. In 132 matches, he has bagged 393 wickets with an average of 28.03 including 15 five-wicket hauls.
Meanwhile, Sharif revealed that it’s his shoulder injury which has forced him to take the sudden decision of retirement.
''Basically my shoulder injury give me this kind of thought in my mind. Like I have 11 scores in the beep test, but then again I think my right shoulder injury is in 50-50 condition. So I don't want to involve with any club with this condition,'' said Sharif.
''If I get involved with any club in this condition then it would be cheating with the club. I don't want to cheat the club. Like they will take me with lots of hope but if I can't deliver my 100 percent then it would be very disappointing for them, as they could have had one more player in the place of mine. So my basic plan is not to waste a place, where another player can have the opportunity. It's better not to play with this 50-50 chance,'' he said.
