MUMBAI (India): Former India opener and leading run-getter in Ranji Trophy Wasim Jaffer announced his retirement from all formats of the game on Saturday.
Jaffer, who made his India debut in February, 2000, represented India in 31 Tests and scored 1944 runs, scoring five hundreds and had a highest score of 212.
The right-handed batsman also played two ODIs, the BCCI said on their website.
Jaffer, who played for Mumbai and Vidarbha in the domestic cricket, also went on to become first batsman to score 12,000 runs in the Ranji Trophy and remains the only to have played 150 or more Ranji games.
“First of all, I would like to thank The Almighty Allah, who gave me the talent to play this beautiful game. I’d like to also thank my family for encouraging me to pursue the sport as a profession and my wife, who left a cosy life of England to create a lovely home for our children and me,” Jaffer said.
“A special thanks to all my coaches, right from my school days to professional cricket, for helping me polish my skills. A heartfelt thanks to the selectors who showed faith in me,” he added.
Jaffer also thanked all the captains under whom he played, his colleagues, well wishers, support staff, the BCCI, Mumbai Cricket Association and Vidarbha Cricket Association.
“My gratitude to all the captains I played under and all my colleagues from whom I learnt so much about the game and shared some lifelong memories,” he said.
“My corporate team Indian Oil Corporation Ltd that has looked after me for 20 odd years. My school Anjuman-e-Islam from where my journey to become professional cricketer began. Sudhir Naik sir for giving me opportunity to play for National cricket club.”
Jaffer hit two doubles hundreds in his Test career and said that he will cherish those feats the most.
“Among moments I will cherish the most is getting my India Test cap, scoring 202 Vs Pakistan, 212 vs West Indies and winning Test series in West Indies and England 2006-07,” he said.
“I am honoured to have shared the dressing room with the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni to name a few,” said Jaffer. (Source: BCCI)
