Published: Oct 18, 2015, 04:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 18, 2015, 04:11 PM (IST)
The news of Zaheer Khan retiring from all forms of cricket spread like wildfire on Thursday, with tributes pouring from the cricketing fraternity as well as from fans of the sport. Among the tributes was one from Indian dairy giant Amul, which published an illustration a day after the Indian pacer announced his decision. Amul, which became widely popular for its intelligent cartoons based on everyday affairs from across the world, has published several acclaimed cartoons based on recent events in the sport. “Zaheer Khan bids farewell to the game. #ZaheerKhan,” read the post of the topical on the dairy brand’s official Twitter account with an illustration of the pacer along with the caption “He left swinging”. READ: Zaheer Khan retires from international cricket with immediate effect
#Amul Topical : Zaheer Khan bids farewell to the game. #ZaheerKhan pic.twitter.com/yS8dCiYdAX
— Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) October 17, 2015
Following is the complete text from Zaheer’s retirement speech made on October 15:
“The toughest call in a cricketing career is when one has to walk away from the game itself. You almost ‘will’ yourself and want to push that few, extra miles but then the body, after nearly two decades, decides not to respond.
As I was training for the upcoming season, it dawned on me that my shoulder may not last the rigours of bowling nearly eighteen overs a day, and that’s when I knew it was time….
With immediate effect, I bid adieu to my career in international cricket. I look forward to signing off my last season in domestic cricket at the conclusion of Indian Premier League season 9.
As a kid from a small town Shrirampur, I gave up a career in engineering to pursue bowling.
My parents backed that decision and every decision since! My dad, I distinctly remember said, ‘Engineers toh bahut saare hein tu bowler hi ban na!” READ: Sachin Tendulkar wishes Zaheer Khan luck for ‘new chapter’
