Zaheer Khan announces retirement from international cricket; to bow out at IPL 9

Left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan, one of India's most successful fast bowlers, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 2011 World Cup winner released a statement through his Twitter account on Thursday, 15 October, saying that he will take his bow from the sport at next year's Indian Premier League.

I bid adieu to my career in international cricket. I look forward to signing off with IPL 9. #ZaksNewBeginning pic.twitter.com/FLpaokbLy1

— zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) October 15, 2015

The 37-year-old veteran, who has played 92 Test matches, 200 ODIs and 17 T20 Internationals, has been in and out of the team in the last three to four years due to recurring injuries which a took a toll on his body.

In 92 Test matches, Khan has taken 311 wickets and is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the longer version amongst Indians, after Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (417). He played a major role in India's 2011 ICC World Cup triumph, taking 21 wickets in the tournament.

In his 200 One-Day appearances, the left-armer bagged 282 scalps at an average of 29.43 and an economy rate of 4.93, including one five-wicket haul and seven four-wicket spells. Khan took 17 wickets in T20s, with a four-wicket haul his best performance in the shortest format.

Khan made his Test debut against Bangladesh at Dhaka in November 2000, while his ODI debut was against Kenya in Nairobi, a month earlier. His last Test match for Team India was against New Zealand at Wellington in February last year, and he played his last T20 and ODI for India three years ago.

According to sources, Khan called up IPL chairman and senior BCCI functionary Rajeev Shukla to intimate his decision to hang his boots.

"Zaheer khan to announce his retirement today My best wishes to him for post retirement carrier (sic)," Shukla tweeted.

(With inputs from PTI)