Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman retires from international cricket with 'heavy heart'

Lahore: Former Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who along with teammate Saeed Ajmal famously stunned England during a 3-0 defeat in 2012, announced his retirement from international cricket Wednesday. The 38-year-old took 19 wickets and Ajmal finished with 24 when Pakistan whitewashed the then-world number one Test team in United Arab Emirates six years ago in one of the finest performances of his career. [caption id=“attachment_5354291” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Abdur Rehman collected 19 of his 99 Test wickets in the home Test series against England in 2012. Reuters[/caption] However Rehman said he was disheartened as of late after being ignored by national selectors. “I am announcing retirement from international cricket with a heavy heart,” Rehman told media in Lahore. “It was a tough decision but I have decided to call it a day.” A wily spinner Rehman finished his 22-Test career just one short of a deserved hundred wicket mark, while he took 30 in 31 one-dayers and eight wickets in 11 Twenty20 internationals. His last Test was in Sri Lanka in 2014 before the selectors began picking younger players in his place to form a new team. Rehman said dismantling the English batsmen in 2012 was his most memorable moment as a professional. “The partnership with Saeed was really great and I can’t ever forget that England series when we clean swept them,” said Rehman. “I played in World Cups, in T20s so am very grateful I managed all that,” said Rehman, who will continue playing First Class cricket in Pakistan. “I’m sad I couldn’t get that 100th wicket, that would’ve really been something, but I’m still grateful for 99 wickets in 22 Tests. Very few left-arm spinners have that,” he added. Rehman’s reputation was also briefly hit by a 12-week ban after failing a drugs test during a stint with Somerset just a few months after his brilliant bowling against England in 2012.