Playing in the 50-over ICC World Cup is certainly one of the high points of a cricketer’s life. And history is replete with players who have bowed out on this big stage as the next quadrennial cricketing showpiece would be four years away, a period that is a bit too far and taxing for some of the ageing bodies in the game.
The ongoing World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, too, have players who could be playing their farewell appearances. And as the championship moves into the knock-out stage, Suvajit Mustafi lists out the possible exits of some of the big names after the tournament:
1. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
He stole the headlines way back in 1996 as a 16-year-old, when he smashed that 37-ball hundred against the then World champions Sri Lanka. The Pakistani all-rounder, who is playing in his fifth World Cup, has already announced that he will retire from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) post this World Cup.
Having already exited from Tests, the 34-year-old will now only feature in Twenty20 Internationals (T20I). No other cricketer is as enchanting and as frustrating at the same time as Afridi. Having been a runner-up in the 1999 edition, he led Pakistan to semi-final in 2011 and will now look to end his ODI career with his hands on the trophy.
ODIs: 397 Runs: 8041 HS: 124 Ave: 23.6 SR: 116.9 Wickets: 395 Best: 7-12 Ave: 34.3
2. Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
Like Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq has also announced that he will retire from ODIs after the World Cup. Misbah, the captain of side, has been one of the key batsmen in Pakistan’s middle-order in the last couple of years.
The 40-year-old will look to repeat Imran Khan’s feat of 1992 in Australia. For that to happen, Pakistan’s batting has to click big time. Misbah has been in great for, but he has received very little support from the other batsmen in his team.
ODIs: 161 Runs: 5088 HS: 96* Ave: 43.5
3. Younis Khan (Pakistan)
Younis Khan, too, will retire from ODIs after the World Cup. Though Younis hasn’t been as successful in ODIs as he has been in Test cricket, his experience is handy in the relatively inexperienced Pakistani batting line-up.
A steady batsman, on his day he can turn a match’s course on his own. At 37, this will be Younis’ last chance to win the World Cup for Pakistan.
ODIs: 264 Runs: 7240 HS: 144 Ave: 31.3
4.MahelaJayawardene (Sri Lanka)
Having retired from T20Is and Tests, Mahela Jawawadene is playing is final ODI tournament. An elegant stroke-maker, he is a player for big occasions and his hundreds in 2007 edition’s semi-final and the final of 2011 edition are still fresh in memory of cricket fans.
In 2007, he led Sri Lanka to the final where they lost against the mighty Australians. And in 2011, his hundred in the final again came in a losing cause as India went on to lift the World Cup. Jayawardene, 37, has been the pillar of Sri Lankan batting and a glorious career will set post the mega 2015 event.
ODIs: 447 Runs: 12646 HS: 144 Ave: 33.5
5. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
It’s tough to believe that cricket’s the 2105 World Cup will be Kumar Sangakkara’s last ODI tournament. Unarguably, Sangakkara has been Sri Lanka’s greatest batsman and the final of last World Cup, where he was the captain, still hurts him. The 37-year-old has been the backbone of Sri Lanka’s batting for many years and with four consecutive hundreds in this World Cup, he isn’t just tumbling records but making the island nation serious contenders for the cup.
He will look to finish the tournament on a high and repeat Arjuna Ranatunga’s feat of 1996.
ODIs: 403 Runs: 14189 HS: 169 Ave: 42.0 Wicketkeeping dismissals: 482
6. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
This may be Tillakaratne Dilshan’s last World Cup, but he is among the runs and is one of the most feared openers around the world. He just doesn’t score them quick but also gets them big.
Tillakaratne, Jayawardene and Sangakkara form the backbone of the Sri Lankan line-up, and losing all three at the same time could devastate Sri Lankan cricket.
ODIs: 313 Runs: 9796 HS: 161* Ave: 39.8 Wickets: 102 Best: 4-4 Ave: 43.7
7. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)
Daniel Vettori has been a special player for New Zealand for over 18 years. A world class spin bowler and a gritty customer down the order with the bat, Vettori’s contribution will be important to New Zealand’s chances in the World Cup. He has been the best spinner in the tournament so far with 13 wickets from six matches with an average of 13.7 and an economy rate of 3.21.
With frequent injuries and age being on the wrong side, Vettori’s illustrious career may very well end after the tournament. With New Zealand having topped the Pool A, Vettori, 36, along with his team, will look to better the feat of Martin Crowe’s men that they achieved in 1992.
ODIs: 292 Runs: 2229 HS: 83 Ave: 17.3 Wickets: 303Best: 5-7 Ave: 31.5
8. Kyle Mills (New Zealand)
Like Vettori, Kyle Mills too isn’t getting any younger and has had enough issues with injuries and has just turned 36. While big stars have hogged the limelight over the years, this man has gone on to do the job quietly and with good success.
Mills hasn’t played a role in the competition yet, but skipper Brendon McCullum will look to turn back to his experience at some point. His contribution with the ball will be vital for New Zealand in the middle-overs and with this being a possible last tournament for him; he will want to give it all.
ODIs: 170 Wickets: 240 Best: 5-25 Ave: 27.0
9. Ed Joyce (Ireland)
This is Ed Joyce’s third World Cup. Having represented England in 2007, the batsman then played for his country of birth, Ireland in the next edition. He is one of the most experienced players in the Irish side and has already showed his class against Zimbabwe by smacking a hundred. He has played a good role for Ireland, who has managed three wins up to now.
This might very well be the last One-Day tournament for the 36-year-old batsman and he will look to leave on a high.
ODIs: 51 Runs: 1600 Best: 116* Ave: 34
10. Khurram Khan (UAE)
Khurram Khan has been UAE’s best batsman for more than 10 years and he gets much of the credit for the country’s qualification to this edition of the World Cup.
Even at 43, he is the backbone of UAE’s batting and he has made a couple of good starts in the tournament but a big one is due.
ODIs: 15 Runs:577 HS: 132* Ave:44.4 Wickets: 12 Best: 4-32 Ave: 36.0
11. Michael Clarke (Australia)
“I may never play again,” said an emotional Michael Clarke after getting injured in the Adelaide Test against India in December 2014. The Australian captain has done well to ensure a speedy recovery and is back to scoring runs.
Injuries have hampered his career and it may not be a surprise if the 33-year-old decides to give up the limited-overs format after the World Cup to prolong his Test career. Clarke will do his best to repeat the accomplishments of his predecessors Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, and lift the World Cup at home.
ODIs: 242 Runs: 7889 HS: 130 Ave: 44.8
12. Brad Haddin (Australia)
Post the retirement of Adam Gilchrist, Brad Haddin has been a source of strength behind the wickets. He has been a complete team man.
Haddin is an astute tactician and having him in the side is a big benefit for the captain. With him floating at number seven and eight, the Australian batting looks deep as ever. He is 37 and he may decide to quit the ODI format after the tournament.
ODIs: 123 Runs:3115 HS: 110 Ave: 31.5 Wicket-keeper dismissals: 173
13. RanganaHerath (Sri Lanka)
There’s nothing spectacular about Rangana Herath’s bowling but his accuracy makes him dangerous in the ODI format. He can bowl long spells, keeping things tight and his role will be very important for Sri Lanka as they will look to dry up their opponents’ runs in the mega event.
He spent the major part of his career in the shadow of Muttiah Muralitharan and now is his chance to shine at the grand stage. He has already showed in this tournament that what he means to Sri Lanka’s bowling, a department that the side has struggled with since he injured his bowling finger. The side is hoping that he’ll be fit before the quarterfinal.
By the time World Cup ends, he will be 37 and he may retire from ODIs to concentrate on the longer format.
ODIs: 71 Wickets: 74 Best: 4-20 Ave: 31.9
14. LasithMalinga (Sri Lanka)
This might surprise a few as Lasith Malinga is only 31, but his run with injuries may very well see him take the premature decision. Over the years, Mallinga has prioritised the T20 format and has played in leagues all over the world where he has been very successful and he may make this decision in order to prolong his club T20 career.
A fully-fit Malinga is an asset to Sri Lanka and this may be his last go at cricket’s most desired trophy. Though not at his best, Malinga has getting better with every match and has already been among the most impressive bowlers. How Sri Lanka fare from now on will largely depend on him.
ODIs: 183 Wickets: 282 Best: 6-38 Ave: 27.3
15. MS Dhoni (India)
MS Dhoni has this ability to surprise everyone with his decisions. Be it on-field or off it, with Dhoni nothing can be predicted. He stunned the world when he announced his retirement midway during the Test Series in Australia in December last year.
The 33-year-old is an unbelievable ODI player, undoubtedly one of the best ever and the relatively inexperienced Indian side will look at their captain to lead from the front. Now a father, Dhoni may drop the ODI retirement bombshell right after the World Cup. With six wins from as many group matches, defending champions India are just another hat-trick of wins from the trophy.
Dhoni will look to repeat the 2011 World Cup feat in what could be a swansong, but like mentioned before with the Indian ODI skipper nothing can be predicted.
ODIs: 260 Runs: 8428 HS: 183* Ave: 52.7 Wicketkeeping dismissals: 325
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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