Indian batsman Wasim Jaffer has announced his retirement from professional cricket with immediate effect. The 41-year old made his First-Class debut way back in 1996 while playing for Mumbai and moved to Vidarbha ahead of the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season.
The opener led Mumbai to its 38th and 39th Ranji Trophy title and also ensured that West Zone won the 16th Duleep Trophy in early 2010. Last year, Jaffer had become the first player in Indian cricket to turn out and play 150 Ranji games,
In the last two seasons, Jaffer has been an important part of the title-winning Vidarbha team. He had a strong season in Ranji last year, scoring 1037 runs. Overall, Jaffer has played 260 FC matches, scoring 19,410 runs at an average of 50.67 along with 57 hundred and 91 half-centuries. His high score is 314.
The right-handed opener turned out for Team India in 31 Tests from 2000 to 2008, scoring 1944 runs with the help of five hundred and 11 fifties. He has a double hundred as well in international Tests when he scored 212 against West Indies at St. John’s in 2006. He also played two ODIs for India.
Jaffer agreed that it was difficult to announce his retirement after playing so long.
“I was fortunate enough to have played this long. The passion to just play more than anything even though I was dropped from the Indian side, but the passion to just play, to get better, improve my batting (kept me going). Even though a lot of people actually give up when they don’t play for India, but I had the passion and I enjoyed playing. I even enjoyed playing in Ranji Trophy and helping the youngsters and that kept me going.”
“One moment just in cricket is obviously getting the India cap. My father, my brother, my family, and I, we work so hard. Coming from such humble background and then getting to play for India, getting the Test cap, you work so hard for that moment. And there are not many cricketers in India that have been able to achieve that, so I feel I was fortunate enough to get that Test cap. That will always remain special no matter what.”
