Shiv retires from international cricket

After more than two decades and 164 test matches, veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has retired from international cricket.  

The 41-year-old from Guyana, who made his debut against England in 1994, amassed more than 20,000 runs in the three forms of the game.

His final game was against England in Barbados in May last year and h was dropped for the following Test series against Australia, with the West Indies Cricket Board wanting to give younger players a chance. He let the WICB know via email on Friday that he is no longer available for selection.

The WICB Chairman, Dave Cameron, said on the governing body’s website: “The WICB acknowledges the invaluable contribution Shiv has made to the game globally and we wish him all the best.”

The left-hander, known for his unorthodox and ungainly style, has been a mainstay of the West Indies side for the past 22 years, and is seventh in the all-time Test run-scorers list with 11,867, one place below his countryman Brian Lara.

He scored 30 Test centuries at an average of 51.37 and also picked up nine wickets.

Chanderpaul, who has had stints in England with Derbyshire, Durham, Lancashire and Warwickshire, also hit 11 one-day international hundreds in 268 matches.

One big reason for Chanderpaul to rethink his international career could be his involvement with the Masters Champions League (MCL), a tournament for players who have left all professional forms of the game including domestic cricket and which starts on January 28 in Dubai.

To participate in the MCL, players have to get no-objection certificates from their respective domestic boards stating that they have retired from all forms of cricket.

According to reports, up until Thursday, the West Indies Cricket Board had not been approached by any player for a no-objection certificate.

Chanderpaul was signed for $30,000 to represent Gemini Arabians in the upcoming tournament.