Daily Times

LONDON: Surrey and England all-rounder Zafar Ansari has announced retirement from cricket at the age of 25, saying he has “other ambitions that I want to fulfil”.

Ansari made his test debut for England in October against Bangladesh before playing two tests against India. The left-arm spinner has played 71 first-class matches.

“After seven years as a professional cricketer and almost two decades in total playing, I have decided to bring my cricket career to an end,” he said.

He added “While the timing may come as a surprise, I have always maintained that cricket was just one part of my life and that I have other ambitions that I want to fulfil”. With that in mind I am now exploring another career potentially in law and to achieve this I have to begin the process now.”

Ansari who has a double first in politics, philosophy and sociology from Cambridge University and a master’s degree in history from Royal Holloway has been at Surrey since the age of eight. He made his England debut in a One-Day International against Ireland in 2015 before being called up to England’s Test squad to tour Bangladesh and India in 2016.

Ansari made his first-class debut for Cambridge University in 2011 against Essex – his maiden first-class wicket was Alastair Cook – and in his third match he claimed 5 for 33 against Surrey which included the scalp of Kevin Pietersen.

He subsequently developed into an all-rounder who impressed in the four-day game and for a lengthy period opened the batting in the County Championship. He finished with career-bests of 112 and 6 for 30 in first-class cricket.

Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart said: “Zafar’s exceptionally tough but considered decision is one that we should all respect and understand.

“To retire at such a young age when his cricket career was progressing very nicely, earning a Test debut against Bangladesh last winter proves that he has given great thought in deciding to walk away from the professional game.”