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From Ayesha Naseem To Sarah Taylor: Top 10 Cricketers Who Retired Early - In Pics

In the world of cricket, some players leave the sport earlier than expected, bidding farewell to their promising careers for various reasons. From personal choices to unfortunate circumstances, their early retirements often leave a lasting impact on the sport and its fans. In this article, we delve into the stories of ten exceptional cricketers who chose to retire early, each with their own unique and compelling reasons. From a young Pakistani talent embracing a devout life to an iconic English wicketkeeper battling anxiety issues, join us as we explore the journeys of these remarkable players through captivating pictures and gripping narratives.

Zee Media Bureau|

Updated:Jul 20, 2023, 06:34 PM IST

1/10

Ayesha Naseem:

Promising young cricketer Ayesha Naseem from Pakistan has surprisingly retired to lead a more devout life in accordance with Islam. Her sudden departure leaves a significant void in the international setup. Ayesha made her debut in 2020 and had impressive performances in both T20Is and ODIs, scoring 369 and 33 runs respectively.

2/10

Sarah Taylor:

The iconic England women's wicket-keeper retired at 30 due to long-time battle with anxiety issues. She had a successful career, winning two ODI World Cups and a T20 World Cup.

3/10

Unmukt Chand:

India's 2012 Under-19 World Cup-winning captain retired at 28 after failing to make a significant impact in domestic and IPL cricket.

4/10

Munaf Patel:

The Indian fast bowler retired at the age of 28, after being left out of international cricket since 2011. He was a skillful bowler and had a successful Cricket World Cup performance.

5/10

Pragyan Ojha:

The left-arm spinner was only 27 when he was discarded from the Indian Cricket Team. Despite an impressive Test record with 113 wickets in 24 matches, competition with Ashwin and Jadeja hindered his chances.

6/10

AB de Villiers:

The South African superstar retired at 34 while still performing exceptionally well. His decision shocked the cricket world, given his outstanding performances in 2018, including great IPL form.

7/10

Andrew Flintoff:

Injuries forced Flintoff to retire in 2009 at just 31, despite his instrumental role in winning the Ashes for England in 2005. He was a brilliant all-rounder in all formats.

8/10

Aaqib Javed:

Representing Pakistan from the age of 16, Javed retired at 26. He played 22 Tests and 163 ODIs but was implicated in a match-fixing controversy that effectively ended his career.

9/10

Craig Kieswetter:

The English wicketkeeper-batsman retired at 25 due to a severe eye injury suffered in county cricket. He played a crucial role in England's 2010 World T20 triumph.

10/10

James Taylor:

Forced to retire at 26, Taylor had a serious heart condition. He was in excellent form for England in limited-overs cricket, with a century and an average of 42 in ODIs.