Five Players Who're Unnecessarily Extending Their International Careers

Whether it is cricket or any other sport, every sportsman has to leave their game one day and step in the second innings of life. In this report, we’ll look at the five players who are unnecessarily extending their international careers.

Some players understand this point in time at the right time, while others take a lot of time to accept the fact.

Presently, there are many players in international cricket for whom it would not be wrong to say that they should call it time now, but a delay in the announcement has led them to face a lot of criticism.

In fact, if a player does not play for the national team and doesn’t even retire, his fans gradually turn to his critics.

Five Players Who Are Unnecessarily Extending Their International Careers:

5. Shoaib Malik

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Shoaib Malik announced his retirement from Test cricket in a press conference during a Test match played against England in Sharjah in November 2015. Announcing his retirement from the Test, Malik had said to focus on the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019.

After this, the all-rounder continued to play in limited-overs cricket and made a place in the ICC World Cup 2019 team. But Shoaib Malik announced his retirement from one-day cricket after defeating Bangladesh in his last league match after being badly flopped.

Currently, Malik plays T20I cricket. Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) no longer gives them more opportunities.

In such a situation, it would not be wrong to say that now the 38-year-old Malik is among the 5 players who should retire from cricket.

4. Lasith Malinga

Sri Lankan cricket team fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who made a mark in world cricket for his precise yorker and slower balls, retired from Test cricket in 2011 citing fitness on the tour of England. Malinga had a knee problem due to which he wanted to play limited-overs cricket for a long time by saying goodbye to the Test.

Hence Malinga retired from his Test career. After this, he continued to perform well for the team in ODIs and T20 cricket for 8 years. But the senior player also announced his ODI retirement after the ODI series played with Bangladesh after the ICC World Cup 2019.

Even at the age of 36, Malinga plays T20I cricket. Some time ago the senior player confirmed that his team needs him currently needs him thus he is playing T20 format. But being a fast bowler, the veteran should now say goodbye to his T20 career as well, otherwise, it can have a profound effect on his fitness.

3. Mashrafe Mortaza

Bangladesh’s national cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza is also among one of those players who should retire from international cricket. He has already retired from Tests and T20Is but he still plays the ODIs.

Mashrafe has lost his form with age passing by and he just seems to drag it down. He was extremely poor with the Bangladesh team in 2019 and 2020 has been no different. In the recent series against Zimbabwe, he clinched two wickets in the first game but remained wicketless in the second match and was bossed by the Zimbabwe batsmen.

Having lost his form, Mashrafe should now retire from international cricket and make way for youngsters so that they can prepare with the national team well ahead of the 2023 world cup. He is definitely among the 5 players who should retire internationally.

2. Chris Gayle

West Indies’ explosive opening batsman, Chris Gayle’s retirement has been a matter of question for a long time now. Gayle has not retired from any form of cricket until now.

He last played a Test match in 2014 and has been away from the Test team. His retirement has been a matter of controversy now as he has announced his retirement multiple times but has come back to playtime and again.

Gayle was a part of the West Indies squad in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Everyone anticipated that he’ll announce his retirement after the world cup but he didn’t do it. He should now retire from international cricket and withhold his respect that he has earned by playing for so many years.

1. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni has been a legendary figure in world cricket since he made his debut. He has been one of the most successful captains in world cricket and is nearing retirement now.

His retirement from international cricket is still under doubt and neither the management nor Dhoni himself has given any hint about his retirement.

He has not played an international game since the semi-final of the 2019 world cup and will now participate in the 13th edition of the IPL.

Dhoni must now retire as his silence is turning out to be like venom for himself. He is among the 5 players who should take retirement from international cricket.

Also Read: Three Things That Make Pakistan Super League Different From IPL And Other Leagues