Five Players Whose Career Came To End Due To Politics

A player always puts his heart and soul in building his career. He trains hard and tries to prepare himself for the big stage. Subsequently, a player tries to grab his opportunities with both hands whenever he gets a chance to play for his national team. There is always pride in making one’s debut and play a crucial role in the team. However, it is a heartbreak for the player when his career comes to an end after facing the politics of the team and the board.

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We take a look at five such players who could have gone to play more for their respective team had their career would not have been intervened by the politics.

Here are the five players whose career ended due to politics:

5. Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir had to be the prey of the politics of the team. Gambhir had done well for the team but didn’t get his deserved chances. The southpaw batsman who is well known for his crucial knocks of the two World Cup finals should have received more chances. Gambhir played his last ODI in Indian colours in 2013 against England at Dharamshala.

Subsequently, the likes of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were able to grab their opportunity in the Champions Trophy and Gambhir was pushed out due to the tough competition. Gambhir played his last Test match against England in 2016 and decided to hang his boots in 2018.

4. Kevin Pietersen

The swashbuckling England batsman Kevin Pietersen had his own issues with Andrew Strauss. Strauss and Andy Flower were suspicious of Pietersen that he was sending message to the South African team. Furthermore, Pietersen was even suspended for the third match against the Proteas in 2012. The right-hander didn’t get many opportunities and his fine career ended on a controversial note.

Pietersen played his last ODI match against arch-rivals Australia in 2013 whereas he played his last Test match against the same opposition in 2014.

3. Dwayne Bravo

The West Indies talisman all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was the victim of the Windies cricket board. There have always been issues between the West Indies players and the board regarding the salary payment of the players. Subsequently, players like Bravo went on to play in different T20 leagues across the globe rather than play for their own country. Hence, Bravo had to retire as he didn’t get a chance to play for the national side due to payment issues.

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Bravo played his last ODI match in 2014 whereas his last T20I match was in 2016 in the West Indies colours.

2. Shoaib Akhtar

The Rawalpindi express had a sad end to his career. Shoaib Akhtar didn’t get a chance in the playing XI of the semifinal contest against India in the World Cup of 2011. In fact, Akhtar later claimed that he was fit to play in the crucial match but Shahid Afridi went on to play Wahab Riaz in the final XI. However, Riaz was able to do justice to his selection as he scalped a five-wicket haul.

Meanwhile, the gun fast bowler played his last match against New Zealand in 2011. But he didn’t get a chance to play after the World Cup and had to announce his retirement later.

1. Ambati Rayudu

The Indian middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu has to be the most unlucky player. Rayudu played regularly for the Indian team before 2019 World Cup. He was part of the team for almost one year before the World Cup. However, Rayudu’s poor form in the Indian Premier League came back to haunt him.

The right-hander was expected to be India’s number four batsman but didn’t found his name in India’s World Cup squad. Rayudu was then named in the reserved player’s list. However, when Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar were ruled out due to respective injuries, Rayudu didn’t get a chance as Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal were selected. Consequently, the Hyderabad player decided to hang his boots.