Veteran Vidarbha batsman Faiz Fazal announces his retirement from professional cricket

Fazal will retire as Vidarbha's highest first-class and List-A run scorer. The 38-year-old has accumulated nearly 9,000 runs in 137 first-class games and 3,600 runs in 113 List-A appearances.

Faiz Fazal, Vidarbha’s experienced opener, has declared his retirement from professional cricket following the team’s last group stage match in the upcoming 2023-24 Ranji Trophy against Haryana.

Fazal will retire as Vidarbha’s highest first-class and List-A run scorer. The 38-year-old has accumulated nearly 9,000 runs in 137 first-class games and 3,600 runs in 113 List-A appearances. The southpaw is also the first Vidarbha cricketer to have played over 100 red-ball games and amassed 34 hundreds across formats throughout his domestic career.

Fazal announced his retirement from professional cricket on his official Instagram account.

“Tomorrow marks the end of an era as I step onto the Nagpur ground for the last time, where my journey in first-class cricket began 21 incredible years ago. It’s been an unforgettable ride, filled with cherished memories that I’ll hold dear forever. Representing both the Indian Cricket Team and Vidarbha has been the greatest honor of my life, and donning those cricket jerseys has always filled me with immense pride,” Faiz Fazal wrote.

“Farewell to my beloved Number 24 jersey – you’ll be deeply missed. As one chapter closes, another awaits, and while bidding adieu to my professional cricket career fills me with mixed emotions, I’m eagerly looking forward to embracing the new adventures that lie ahead,” he added.

Fazal led Vidarbha to their maiden Ranji Trophy victory in 2017-18, and they successfully defended it the following season under his leadership.

The veteran has struggled in the present Ranji season, scoring 56 runs in three games at an average of 11.20, including two ducks.