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Pakistan's Razzaq retires from international cricket
AFP
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AFP
KARACHI, August 20: All-rounder Abdul Razzaq announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday, saying he had taken his decision in protest at his omission from the Pakistan national team.
"I have taken this decision under protest because I am mentally disturbed over the treatment meted out by the selectors who dropped me like a new player," Razzaq told a private television channel from London.
"I will see the response of the selectors and the Pakistan Cricket Board before reviewing my decision because this is taken under protest."
Razzaq, who is in London to sign a short contract with Worcestershire county, was dropped from Pakistan's 15-man squad for next month's inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.
The selectors said Razzaq and senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf would be rested - a reason Razzaq said he believed was a pretext for him being dropped from the side.
"I was hurt when they dropped me, and on form and fitness and on my record as an international player, I deserved the benefit" of being treated as a senior player, said Razzaq.
Razzaq also missed the World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year because of a knee injury.
He has scored 1,146 runs and took 100 wickets in 46 Tests. He made 4,465 runs and took 240 wickets in 231 One-Day Internationals in a career which began in 1995.
Razzaq, who is among eight Pakistani players offered lucrative contracts by a breakaway Indian league, said his decision was not linked to rebel cricket.
"I have not signed any deal with the Indian league but if I get the same treatment from my own people, I might be forced to join the league, but my decision to retire has nothing to do with the Indian league," he said.
"I have taken this decision under protest because I am mentally disturbed over the treatment meted out by the selectors who dropped me like a new player," Razzaq told a private television channel from London.
"I will see the response of the selectors and the Pakistan Cricket Board before reviewing my decision because this is taken under protest."
Razzaq, who is in London to sign a short contract with Worcestershire county, was dropped from Pakistan's 15-man squad for next month's inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.
The selectors said Razzaq and senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf would be rested - a reason Razzaq said he believed was a pretext for him being dropped from the side.
"I was hurt when they dropped me, and on form and fitness and on my record as an international player, I deserved the benefit" of being treated as a senior player, said Razzaq.
Razzaq also missed the World Cup in the Caribbean earlier this year because of a knee injury.
He has scored 1,146 runs and took 100 wickets in 46 Tests. He made 4,465 runs and took 240 wickets in 231 One-Day Internationals in a career which began in 1995.
Razzaq, who is among eight Pakistani players offered lucrative contracts by a breakaway Indian league, said his decision was not linked to rebel cricket.
"I have not signed any deal with the Indian league but if I get the same treatment from my own people, I might be forced to join the league, but my decision to retire has nothing to do with the Indian league," he said.
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