Abdul Razzaq: ‘I will walk away next year’

Razzaq plans to retire after this years Wold Cup, believes he will do well in the tournament.

LAHORE: Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has decided that 2012 would be his last in international cricket as he prepares to retire after the 2012 World Twenty20.

The 31-year-old said that though he was at the top of his game at the moment, he saw himself walking away after the Twenty20 tournament.

“Retirement is always a tough decision,” Razzaq told The Express Tribune. “But looking at my form and fitness, I see myself walking away after the 2012 World Twenty20. During this time I will try to finish my career on a high, which is very important for me so I would like to give as much as I can give to my country.”

Playing for Pakistan an honour

The all-rounder, who made his One-Day International (ODI) debut in 1996 against Zimbabwe and took two for 29, believed that he has enough cricket left in him.

“Playing for the country is always an honour,” added Razzaq.

“I want to win the World Cup for the country before retirement and following my current performance I believe I will do well for Pakistan in the tournament.”

First retirement

Razzaq, who has played 248 ODIs taking 259 wickets and scoring 4,921 runs, had earlier announced his international retirement in August 2007 to protest his snub by the selectors for the inaugural World Twenty20 over his poor form. However, he reversed his decision on the suggestion of his friends and family.

Comeback

He subsequently joined the unofficial Indian Cricket League and was out of the international scene for nearly two years before making a comeback in the second edition of the World Twenty20 in England after injury to Yasir Arafat. There, Razzaq’s performance was pivotal as Pakistan triumphed to win the tournament at Lord’s under the captaincy of Younus Khan.

Permanent member

Since then, the all-rounder has been a regular feature in the Pakistan limited-overs team and although his bowling is not as threatening, he has played two match-winning innings this year.

The first came in February in a Twenty20 match against England as Pakistan drew the two-match series. The second was a whirlwind 72-ball 109 against South Africa as Pakistan scraped through to a one-wicket win after Razzaq single-handedly destroyed the opposition.

During his 15-year career Razzaq has been plagued by fitness concerns on a few occasions and was particularly disadvantaged by a back spasm and knee injury.

However, he remains confident that his performance could only get better.

“I am currently super fit and I’ll perform 100 per cent for Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2011.