NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Former all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, who was part of two World Cup winning India teams, announced his retirement from all forms of the game yesterday.
The big-hitting 38-year-old played 57 one-dayers and 22 Twenty20 Internationals for India after beginning his career in the shadow of younger brother and test bowler Irfan Pathan.
“The time has come today for me to put a full stop to this innings of my life,” Yusuf said in a statement on social media.
Both the Pathan brothers were part of the victorious India team at the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Four years later, Yusuf was part of Dhoni’s team who won the 50-overs World Cup on home soil.
Yusuf last played for India in a Twenty20 match in 2012 but his power-hitting and crafty off-spin made him an asset in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He was part of the Rajasthan Royals team who won the inaugural IPL title under Shane Warne in 2008.
Earlier yesterday, seamer Vinay Kumar, 37, also quit the game having played one test and 40 limited-overs matches for India.