Ten Legendary Cricketers Who Didn't Receive A Proper Farewell

The road for amateur cricketers to becoming legends is undeniably a long one and takes several years. Whether as a batsman or bowler, a cricketer can only be referred to as a legend, who has contributed heavily to several victories. Also preferably, one of the top run-getters or wicket-takers, having played a significant role in an ICC title win. Inevitably, all such cricketers reach a specific age when their abilities start taking a hit.

Also Read: 5 Famous Cricketers Who Went Back To Domestic Cricket To Regain Their Form

And that is when the runs from their bat start drying, or wickets become challenging to come by. In such circumstances, the selectors have to take a tough call of dropping them. Nevertheless, such players having contributed aplenty and given their years deserve a farewell game. Unfortunately, they don’t and announce their retirement without it.

We take a look at ten legendary cricketers who were let go without handing them a farewell match:

Mohammad Yousuf:

Few men boasted of such elegance and style as Mohammad Yousuf. One of the mainstays of Pakistan middle-order for a long time, Yousuf was a prolific run-getter and arguably one of the legends of the game. Yousuf holds the record of scoring the highest number of Test runs in a calendar year when he racked up 1788 runs in 2006. After Pakistan’s winless tour of Australia in 2009-10, the 45-year old, who was the captain, faced an indefinite ban by the PCB.

It resulted in announcing his retirement for that time being; however, the right-handed batsman returned for the England tour in 2010. His final innings for the national team arrived in November 2010 in an ODI against South Africa. Mohammad Yousuf announced his intention to return to internationals in April 2012 but was never picked for Pakistan again.

Also Read: Top 5 Youngest Cricketers To Lead India In ODIs

Shoaib Akhtar:

Shoaib Akhtar was arguably one of the fastest bowlers produced and amongst the elite ones in Pakistan. Akhtar recorded his fastest delivery in the 2003 World Cup against England, which was 161.3 km/h.

The Rawalpindi Express’s final match for the national team was against New Zealand in the 2011 World Cup, which turned out to be a forgettable one. The 44-year old conceded 70 runs in nine overs, including 28 runs smashed by Ross Taylor. He announced that he would retire after the tournament; however, Pakistan never picked him for a single match after the game against the Kiwis.

Also Read: Five Records That Were Created By Women Cricketers Before Male Players

Yuvraj Singh:

One of the greatest Indian all-rounders, Yuvraj Singh, has created his reputation of raising his game in World Cups. The left-handed batsman was integral to India’s triumph in 2007 and 2011 World Cup triumphs, including winning the man of the tournament award in the 2011 edition.

After representing India in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs, and 58 T20Is, Yuvraj announced his retirement in June 2019. The 38-year old’s last game was in a T20I against England in February 2017, in which he scored 27 off 10 deliveries. Despite the promising innings, he could never get a preference moving forward or a proper send-off.

Also Read: Five Cricketers Who Played Alongside Most Players In International Cricket

Zaheer Khan:

Zaheer Khan was arguably one of the intelligent craftsmen and the finest fast bowlers produced by India. The left-arm paceman was widely known for consistently producing reverse swing with the old ball, using it to great effect. With 311 Test wickets, Zaheer Khan has the second-most number of scalps for India.

The Indian selectors moved on from him after his unsatisfactory tour of New Zealand early in 2014. Having played two Tests, he took only nine wickets at 42.44. The selectors left him out for the subsequent Test tour of England. In October 2015, the 41-year old announced his retirement from all forms of cricket without receiving any backing from the selectors.

Also Read: Five Cricketers Who Began Their Careers As Bowlers But Ended Up As Batsmen

Gautam Gambhir:

Gautam Gambhir was a defiant and technically correct opening batsman, establishing his authority in all three formats during his playing days. Gambhir’s half-centuries in the final of the 2011 World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup that resulted in India’s victory would always remain the highlight of his career. It was in 2016 that the southpaw returned to the Test squad, two years after registering only 25 runs from four innings in England.

That home season’s first Test against England in Rajkot turned out as his last for the national team, having scored 29 and 0 in two innings. Despite amassing over 4000 Test and 5000 ODI runs, the 38-year-old was never preferred after 2016. Gautam Gambhir retired from international cricket in 2018 and made a career as a politician.

Also Read: Cricketers Who Thought Of Committing Suicide At Some Point

Virender Sehwag:

Virender Sehwag was one of the greatest opening batsmen and amongst the openers, who has the highest number of Test runs. Having featured in 104 Tests, Sehwag accumulated 8586 runs at a strike rate of 82.23. Virender Sehwag is also one of the few to have scored two triple-centuries in Test cricket.

The Delhi batsman’s final game for India was a Test match against Australia in March 2013. After announcing his retirement in October 2015, he revealed his disappointment at not being given a chance for the final two Tests against Australia in the 2013 series. In January 2013 and October 2012, the 41-year old featured in his last ODI and T20 match respectively.

Also Read: Five Indian Cricketers Who Broke Into The Indian Team After Successful IPL Stints

VVS Laxman:

VVS Laxman would forever be remembered for the reliability and the calmness he added into the Indian middle-order. The 45-year old’s 281 against Australia in 2001 in Kolkata remains one of the greatest knocks in the history of Test cricket.

He announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a 134-Test career spanning 16 years. Even though VVS Laxman’s forte was not ODI cricket, the Indian selectors never once offered him a farewell game. In more than 200 games, the right-handed batsman scored more than 10000 runs with 23 centuries.

Also Read: Five Current Cricketers Who Can Comfortably Be Part Of World XI Sides

Wasim Akram:

Arguably the greatest left-arm seamer in history, Wasim Akram possessed all the tricks to trouble the batsmen. One of the finest exponents of reverse swing, the former Pakistan captain could consistently generate reverse swing off the old ball. Across two formats, Wasim Akram snared 908 wickets in 18 years of international cricket.

Wasim was also one of those cricketers, who wasn’t offered a farewell match to bid adieu to the sport in a fitting way. The left-arm seamer’s final international game came at the 2003 World Cup against Zimbabwe that resulted in a washout. With the tournament ending disappointingly for Pakistan, the selectors omitted out of the subsequent ODI tri-series.

Matthew Hayden:

No other Australian opening batsman has more Test runs than Matthew Hayden’s 8625 in 103 Tests at 50.73. Hayden was one of those cricketers, who was fearless and brutal in his approach, taking the attack to the opposition from the get-go. The Queensland-born played a significant role in Australia’s two World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007, including being the highest run-getter in 2007.

He retired from international cricket in January 2009 on the back of enduring a miserable summer, dragging himself to 149 runs in five Test innings at 16.55. Before Hayden’s announcement, he was dropped from the One-day and T20 squads as well.

Kevin Pietersen:

Kevin Pietersen was one of the classiest cricketers produced by England and the first to introduce an attacking intent with the bat in the English set-up. With 8181 Test runs in 104 fixtures, Pietersen is the fifth-highest run-getter for England. He played a significant role in England’s victory in Australia in 2010-11 and India in 2012-13, the latter, which can be called one of the best series wins for them.

But the next tour of Australia in 2013-14 was the beginning of the end of his career. The Ashes series down under resulted in a 5-0 demolition of England, leading the selectors to make Kevin Pietersen the scapegoat of that loss. The South African-born’s 294 runs in five Tests at 29.40 contained two fifties. Even with a reasonably good series but with an exemplary record, Pietersen never played another game for England and retired in March 2018.

Also Read: Five Cricketers Who Played International And U-19 Cricket For Different Countries