Khurram Khan, the best UAE cricket has seen, retires from international game

Khurram Khan, the most successful cricketer in the UAE national team's history, retired on Friday, reports Paul Radley.

Khurram Khan celebrates a century against Papua New Guinea in a Cricket World Cup qualifier last year. Martin Hunter / IDI / Getty Images / January 26, 2014

Khurram Khan, the UAE's most successful cricketer, has retired from the international game.

The all-rounder has called time on his 14 year career for the national team, two weeks short of his 44th birthday.

“I’d personally like to thank Khurram for the enormous contribution he’s made to UAE cricket during and before my time with the team,” said Aaqib Javed, the UAE head coach.

“He’s a highly skillful player, who’s experienced enormous success with the UAE and been a stand-out player in associate cricket. He is also an incredible competitor.”

His departure will create a massive void in UAE cricket. Khurram has set the standard for national team cricketers to follow over the past 14 years, and was captain of the side for most of that time.

In 16 full one-day internationals he scored 582 runs at an average of 41.57, and became the oldest ODI centurion last year.

His 132 not out against Aghanistan in Dubai last November put him at the top of a list ahead of Geoff Boycott, Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar.

Aaqib and the Emirates Cricket Board hierarchy had hoped Khurram might be able to continue for long enough to help the national team’s bid for World Twenty20 qualification at a tournament in Ireland and Scotland next month.

However, he opted to bring his international career to an end after the Intercontinental Cup tie against Ireland in Malahide, which ended today in an innings defeat.

“Khurram has been a fantastic servant to the UAE national team and will be missed both on and off the field,” said David East, the chief executive of the ECB.

“We wish him well in his retirement from the international game.”

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