Cricket

Aleem Dar, the legendary Pakistani umpire, is set to bid farewell to his illustrious career at the end of Pakistan's current domestic season. Dar, 56, has been a pillar of the cricketing world for nearly a quarter of a century, earning widespread recognition as one of the finest umpires of all time.Dar's journey began as a legspinner, playing 17 first-class and 18 List-A matches between 1986 and 1998. However, it was in umpiring that he found his true calling. He made his first-class umpiring debut during the 1998-99 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and quickly rose through the ranks.In 2002, Dar became the first Pakistani umpire to be appointed to the ICC's elite panel. He went on to establish himself as a respected and highly skilled official, standing in four World Cup finals and a record-breaking 145 Tests and 222 ODIs.Dar's reputation for fairness and accuracy earned him the ICC's David Shepherd Trophy for Umpire of the Year three years in a row from 2009 to 2011. He was known for his calm demeanor, clear communication, and unwavering commitment to upholding the spirit of the game.In recent years, Dar has gradually reduced his on-field role, focusing on mentoring and guiding the next generation of match officials. He has also established the Aleem Dar Foundation, a charity that provides a free ambulance service, blood bank, and transfusion for thalassemia patients.As Dar prepares to retire, he reflects on his remarkable career with gratitude and pride. "Umpiring has been my life for nearly 25 years, and I have cherished the privilege of officiating some of the most iconic matches involving the greatest players of this generation," he said.Dar's retirement marks the end of an era in cricket umpiring. He has set a high standard of professionalism and integrity, inspiring countless aspiring umpires around the world. His legacy will continue to shape the game for years to come.

Dwayne Bravo, the legendary all-rounder, has bid farewell to cricket after a glittering career spanning over two decades. The 41-year-old, who holds the record for most T20 wickets, announced his retirement on Instagram, citing physical limitations.Bravo's international career ended in 2021, and he stepped away from the IPL last year. However, he continued to play in various T20 leagues around the world, including the CPL, where he was the most decorated player with five titles.In his retirement post, Bravo expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his career. He acknowledged that his body could no longer withstand the rigors of the game, and he did not want to compromise his performance or let down his teammates.Bravo's retirement marks the end of an era in T20 cricket. He was known for his exceptional bowling skills, particularly his variations and ability to bowl at the death. He also contributed with the bat, often playing crucial cameos in the lower order.Beyond his on-field achievements, Bravo was also a respected leader and mentor. He played a key role in nurturing young players, such as Dominic Drakes and Ali Khan, who have gone on to become stars in their own right.Bravo's retirement leaves a void in the world of cricket. He was a true entertainer and a role model for aspiring cricketers. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

Shakib Al Hasan Announces Retirement from Test Cricket, Hints at Farewell in IndiaBangladesh's legendary all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has expressed his desire to retire from Test cricket, with his final match potentially being against South Africa in Mirpur or India in the upcoming second Test. The 35-year-old also confirmed his retirement from T20 cricket.Shakib made the announcement during a pre-match press conference in Kanpur ahead of the first Test against India. "I have expressed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur, if that won't happen, the second Test against India would be my last," he said.Shakib's Test career has been a remarkable one. In 70 matches, he has amassed 4600 runs at an average of 38.33, including five centuries and 31 half-centuries. With the ball, he has claimed 242 wickets, including 19 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket matches.His all-round abilities have made him an indispensable member of the Bangladesh team. He has often played match-winning innings and taken crucial wickets, guiding his side to memorable victories.Shakib's retirement from Test cricket will mark the end of an era for Bangladesh cricket. He has been a role model for aspiring cricketers and has played a pivotal role in the team's rise to prominence.While he may be stepping away from the longest format, Shakib is expected to continue playing One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). He remains one of the most experienced and respected players in the world, and his contributions to Bangladesh cricket will continue to be invaluable.

Shikhar Dhawan, the former Indian opener, has revealed that he retired from cricket due to a lack of inspiration to pursue domestic cricket for a place in the national team. Dhawan, who played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is for India between 2013 and 2022, announced his retirement in August 2023.Dhawan stated that he had lost the motivation to play domestic cricket, which he had started at a young age. He felt that continuing to play only in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was not enough to maintain his touch and be considered for national selection."I thought that continuing IPL and just coming up with two, three months of hard work won't be enough for me to go and play," Dhawan said.Dhawan, who captained Punjab Kings in the IPL, realized that practicing for a few months before the tournament would not be sufficient to earn him a national call-up. He also expressed satisfaction with his achievements in his career."I was very happy and satisfied and content with whatever I achieved in my career, and very, very grateful for everything," he said.Dhawan praised Rohit Sharma's leadership as India's captain, highlighting the team's T20 World Cup victory under his guidance. He also acknowledged India's near-miss in the ODI World Cup."We were very close in (winning) the ODI World Cup as well, and now we achieved that goal in T20Is," Dhawan said.Dhawan's retirement marks the end of a successful career for the left-handed opener. He is known for his aggressive batting style and has been a key member of India's limited-overs teams. He holds the record for the highest partnership runs in career for any wicket with Rohit Sharma, having added 5,193 runs in 117 matches.

Steven Croft, the legendary all-rounder who played a pivotal role in Lancashire's 2011 County Championship triumph, has bid farewell to professional cricket at the age of 39. Croft, who retired from first-class and List A cricket last year, had been playing T20 cricket for Lancashire this season. However, he has now decided to hang up his boots and transition into a full-time coaching role with the club.Croft's final appearance came in Lancashire's Vitality Blast quarter-final defeat to Sussex earlier this month. It was his 600th match for the club across all formats. He made his Lancashire debut in 2005 and went on to amass 19,183 runs and claim 199 wickets with his offspin.The highlight of Croft's career came in 2011 when he scored the winning runs against Somerset at Taunton, securing Lancashire's first County Championship title in 77 years. Four years later, he captained the T20 team to their maiden T20 Blast title, defeating Northamptonshire in the final at Edgbaston.Between June 2006 and July 2018, Croft played 148 consecutive T20 matches for Lancashire, an English record. He finishes his career as Lancashire's leading T20 run-scorer with 5,486 runs."My dream as a boy was to play one game for Lancashire, in the end it became 600," Croft said. "So, after just over two decades of playing for the club, I have taken the decision to retire as a player.""I can confidently say I have realised my dream and more, and what a ride it has been. To go with the games, runs, wickets and catches, I have played alongside some of my heroes and many greats of the game."Mark Chilton, Lancashire's Director of Cricket, praised Croft's contributions to the club. "Steven epitomises everything good about this club. He is an outstanding individual who always puts the team first and anyone who has watched him knows that Steven puts his heart and soul into every game and his record speaks for itself.""To be such an influential member of our side - as well as contributing to so many match-winning performances - over such a long period of time is something he should be very proud of.""Players like Steven don't come around too often and whilst we will miss his skill and experience on the field, we're thrilled that he will continue to play a vital role in continuing to develop the exciting young players we have at Emirates Old Trafford, working across the Men's First Team, Second XI and Academy."

Dwayne Bravo, the legendary all-rounder, has bid farewell to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after sustaining a groin injury during a match against St Lucia Kings. The 40-year-old had initially planned to retire at the end of the 2024 season, but the untimely injury has forced him to end his CPL career prematurely.Bravo's injury occurred while attempting to catch Kings' captain Faf du Plessis in the seventh over. He immediately left the field and did not bowl a single over in what turned out to be his final CPL game. Despite his injury, Bravo returned to bat at No. 11 in TKR's failed chase of 219. He faced just one ball, which struck his thigh, before retiring hurt, visibly emotional."When he pulled up [injured], it looked pretty serious," said TKR captain Kieron Pollard. "He's been a charismatic person and has been inspiring throughout. We just want to tell him thank you very much for all that he has done for cricket."Bravo's injury is a significant blow to TKR, who were also without Sunil Narine for the match against Kings. Narine is expected to return soon from a quad strain, while Andre Russell's workload is being managed due to a hamstring complaint.In the absence of Bravo and Narine, Pollard took on the bowling mantle, bowling his full complement of overs for the first time in the CPL since 2022. "I had to take the mantle with DJ [Bravo] going down and Russell isn't 100% fit," Pollard said.Du Plessis, who played alongside Bravo at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, paid tribute to the CPL stalwart. "Sad to see DJ Bravo finishing in that way," du Plessis said. "He's obviously someone that I've admired for a long time. He's done so much for everyone around the Caribbean."Bravo is the most decorated player in the CPL, having won five titles in all, including three with TKR. He led TKR to back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 before captaining St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their first title in 2021.

Piyush Chawla Hints at Retirement, Jokes About Playing with Prithvi Shaw's SonVeteran Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla has playfully hinted at his retirement plans, suggesting that he might hang up his boots after former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.Chawla, 35, remains an active player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has expressed his desire to continue playing for several more years. In a recent interview on The Shubhankar Mishra Show, Chawla engaged in a light-hearted conversation with fellow cricketer Prithvi Shaw about his retirement plans."A while ago, Prithvi Shaw told me, 'Bas karo yaar ab PC bhai.' I said, I've played with Sachin paaji, and now playing with his son. I am playing with you, and after playing with your son, I will retire," Chawla said with a smile.Chawla's remarks underscore his enduring passion for cricket. Despite no longer being a part of the Indian national team, the two-time World Cup winner continues to make a significant impact in the IPL.When asked who might retire first, Chawla humorously pointed to his former India captain, MS Dhoni, saying, "Mahi bhai." Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, also continues to play in the IPL like Chawla.Both players are known for their longevity in cricket, continuing to perform at a high level despite their age. Chawla's comments suggest that he plans to stay in the game for a while longer, entertaining cricket fans for more seasons to come.

Moeen Ali, the versatile England all-rounder, has bid farewell to international cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable career spanning nearly a decade. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the 37-year-old announced his retirement from all formats of the game.Ali's decision stems from his omission from England's squad for the upcoming Test series against Australia. "I'm 37 years old and didn't get picked for this month's Australia series," he explained. "I've played a lot of cricket for England. It's time for the next generation, which was also explained to me. It felt the time was right. I've done my part."Since his international debut in 2014, Ali has amassed an impressive record across all formats. In 68 Tests, he scored 2,914 runs, including eight centuries and 28 half-centuries, while claiming 195 wickets. In 138 ODIs, he contributed 2,417 runs and 87 wickets, and in 92 T20Is, he scored 1,347 runs and 84 wickets.Ali's last international appearance came in England's semi-final defeat to India at the T20 World Cup in Guyana. Reflecting on his career, he expressed immense pride in his achievements. "When you first play for England, you don't know how many games you're going to play. So to play nearly 300…My first few years were all about Test cricket. Once Morgs [Eoin Morgan] took over the one-day stuff, that was more fun. But Test cricket was the proper cricket."Despite his retirement from international cricket, Ali remains passionate about the game and plans to continue playing franchise cricket. He has already signed up as a replacement player for defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). In the past year, he has also represented Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Joburg Super Kings in the SA20, and Chittagong Vikings in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).Beyond playing, Ali aspires to pursue a career in coaching. "Coaching is something I want to do -- I want to be one of the best," he said. "I can learn a lot from Baz [Brendon McCullum]. I hope people remember me as a free spirit. I played some nice shots and some bad shots, but hopefully people enjoyed watching me."Moeen Ali's retirement marks the end of an era for English cricket. His all-round abilities and infectious personality will be sorely missed by fans and teammates alike. As he embarks on a new chapter in his life, he leaves behind a legacy of success and inspiration.

Dwayne Bravo Announces Retirement from CPL After Ongoing SeasonDwayne Bravo, the legendary all-rounder and highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket, has announced his retirement from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after the conclusion of the ongoing season. The 40-year-old made the announcement hours before Trinbago Knight Riders' opening game of CPL 2024 against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in Basseterre."It's been a great journey and I'm looking forward to playing my final professional tournament in front of my Caribbean people," Bravo posted on Instagram. "TKR is the place where everything started for me and will end with my team."Bravo has been an integral part of the CPL since its inception in 2013, leading the Trinbago Knight Riders to four titles. He is also the tournament's all-time leading wicket-taker with 128 strikes in 103 games at an impressive average of 22.40 and an economical rate of 8.69.Beyond his CPL exploits, Bravo has enjoyed a remarkable career at the international level, representing the West Indies in 40 Tests, 164 ODIs, and 91 T20Is. He has taken over 500 wickets across all formats and is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time.Bravo's retirement from the CPL marks the end of an era for the tournament. His exceptional skills, leadership, and infectious enthusiasm have left an indelible mark on the competition. He will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most iconic players in CPL history.