NEW DELHI,Oct 15: Zaheer Khan, India's left-arm pacer, announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday (October 15). Zaheer, 37, one of India's leading pacemen, said in a statement: "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."
India's premier quick bowler said he will continue playing domestic cricket for one season before calling it quits from all forms at the end of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016."I look forward to signing off my last season in domestic cricket at the conclusion of IPL season 9."
Zaheer ended his career with 311 wickets in 92 Tests at an average of 32.94 after making his debut in November 2010 against Bangladesh. However, he has not featured in a match since the final Test of the two-match series against New Zealand in Wellington in February 2014. Having no success in the first innings, Zaheer returned figures of 5 for 170 in the second, which turned out to be his final international outing for India.
Zaheer made his One-Day International debut against Kenya in October 2000 and had just as much success in the format. In 200 ODIs, he scalped 282 wickets at an average of 29.43 with an economy rate of 4.93.Zaheer's records in both Tests and ODIs are overall, the fourth-best for India.
He has also played 17 Twenty20 Internationals where he will end with just as many wickets. Zaheer will, however, continue to feature in the Indian Premier League.(Agencies)
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