Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza has announced the he will retire from all formats of international cricket at the end of the upcoming T20I triangular series in Bangladesh.
The veteran batsman, who turned 36 last month, announced his decision at a press conference held at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.
"After a great deal of consideration, I have decided to announce my retirement from all formats of international cricket at the end of the upcoming triangular series in Bangladesh," Masakadza said.
"It has been an enormous privilege to have played for and captained my country and this is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make."
Masakadza's international career started in July 2001 when, at the age of 17 years and 354 days, he scored 119 against the West Indies in Harare to become the youngest player in the world to make a century on Test debut.
He bows out having played 38 Tests in which he scored 2 223 runs, including five centuries and eight fifties.
Masakadza has also appeared in 209 ODIs, scoring 5 658 runs, including five hundreds and 34 half-centuries.
As he leads Zimbabwe to Bangladesh for a series which will also include Afghanistan, he has 62 T20Is under his belt from which he amassed 1 529 runs.
"Throughout my international career ... it has always been about giving everything to the team, playing with dignity and upholding the spirit of the game," said Masakadza.
"It has not been an easy road and I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying. That's what makes it sad for me to leave, but I can do so with pride and a big smile on my face knowing I have given everything to the game and my nation."
Masakadza had targeted playing at the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia before hanging his bat, but he decided to bring his retirement forward after Zimbabwe were barred from taking part in the qualifier tournament for the global showcase.
"I was looking forward to the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier in Dubai next month, but with Zimbabwe barred from taking part in the event, I feel that the time is right for the focus to shift to the next generation," he said.
"We have some fantastic talent coming through and, with Zimbabwe's focus now on the 2023 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup, I believe now is the time for the younger players to rise to the challenge of taking us to the global showpiece.
"Indeed, now is the time for a new generation of young players to make their own history and take the Zimbabwe cricket team further."
Masakadza went on to thank everyone who played a role in his stellar career, including Zimbabwe Cricket, fans, the media, his family and all the players and coaches he has worked with.
