London, April 26: Promising England all-rounder Zafar Ansari has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the age of 25.
The Surrey all-rounder, Ansari, who made his Test debut during Bangladesh tour in October, last year, has decided to quit cricket to pursue law.
The left-arm spinner and a middle-order batsman, was also part of the England squad which played Test series against India. Ansari played in two Test matches against India, but he wasn't that effective with bat and ball.
He has played three Tests, scored 49 runs in all and picked up 5 wickets.
Ansari made his ODI debut for England in 2015 against Ireland. He was named in England's Test squad against Pakistan in 2015 but was ruled out by a freak hand injury sustained while fielding.
A super talented & committed guy leaves cricket to pursue another dream. Zafar Ansari, I wish you well! Way too clever to be a cricketer! 😉
— KP (@KP24) April 26, 2017
Ansari announced his retirement in a statement issued through his county club Surrey.
"After seven years as a professional cricketer and almost two decades in total playing the game, I have decided to bring my cricket career to an end. This has been a very difficult decision to make and I have not made it lightly. I started playing for Surrey at the age of 8 and the club has been a hugely important part of my life since then. Surrey have always completely supported me and I am extremely grateful to the club for their backing over the years. It is, therefore, with great sadness that I say goodbye," Ansari said in the statement.
Zafar..you should be very proud of everything you have achieved in the game..thank you for some wonderful memories..well batted my friend
— Mark Church (@backandacross) April 26, 2017
He will be leaving cricket to pursue new challenges, potentially in law.
"Nevertheless, I have always been clear that when the time was right for me to move on I would, and that time has now come. While the timing may come as a surprise, I have always maintained that cricket was just one part of my life and that I have other ambitions that I want to fulfil. With that in mind, I am now exploring another career, potentially in law, and to achieve this I have to begin the process now.
1 - Zafari Ansari is the only spinner to take 90 wickets and post over 2,000 runs in the @CountyChamp since 2014. Retirement. pic.twitter.com/YJHtDPG6nm
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) April 26, 2017
"I will look back extremely fondly on playing with some wonderful teams and having the opportunity to perform in front of the best crowds in county cricket at the Kia Oval. Equally, to have played three Test matches for England was a huge honour and it is something I will undoubtedly savour for the rest of my life. Most of all, I will miss the people with whom I have shared my career and I cherish the relationships that I have formed along the way.
"I would like to thank Surrey and its fans for the way they have supported and encouraged me over the last 17 years. I am now looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life, but I know that Surrey will always feel like a home to me," he said.
OneIndia News