One of the most popular sports in the world, cricket is currently seeing the biggest festival in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which is being played in India. 10 best teams from around the globe are clashing for the world champion glory and the race for the semi-finals has become more stiff as the marquee event progresses.
India, the hosts, have already qualified for the semi-finals after winning their first seven matches, while Bangladesh are out of the race with just one win in as many games. There’s still an ominous feeling hanging over the tournament. This funfair could be the last event for many celebrated cricketers as they reach an age where reflexes diminish and/or they don’t have much left to achieve.
Today we take a look at a few such cricketers, who, if they decide to retire from one-day international cricket after the 2023 World Cup, their absence will be difficult to fill.
Here are the 10 Cricketers who are going to retire after the Cricket World Cup 2023:
1. Naveen Ul Haq (Afghanistan)
Naveen ul Haq (Photo Source: Twitter)
The 24-year-old Afghanistan pacer Naveen Ul Haq has already announced that the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 will be his last outing in the ODI format. Naveen, who made his international debut in 2016, has represented Afghanistan in 13 ODIs till now and has 20 wickets to his name with a best of 4/42.
In the ongoing CWC 2023, Naveen has picked 6 wickets with a best of 2/48 against New Zealand, in Chennai. He had also taken 2/52 against Pakistan, in the match that Afghanistan won in a dominating fashion. Naveen revealed in an announcement, that he made this difficult decision to retire to prolong his career, given his unorthodox action which puts him in danger of injuries.
2. Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
Mushfiqur Rahim. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Mushfiqur Rahim had played his first ODI World Cup back in 2007, and this is his fifth appearance in the mega event. The bonafide legend of Bangladesh cricket has featured in 263 ODIs thus far and has scored 7’577 runs with 9 centuries at an average of 36.78.
He started his World Cup campaign on a good note with half-centuries against England and New Zealand. But along with the Bangladesh team’s dwindling form, Rahim’s form also took a nose dive and he has scored single-digit runs in his last three matches. With Bangladesh eliminated from the race for the semi-finals already, it might prove to be a sad farewell for such a brilliant cricketer.
3. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
Angelo Mathews. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Angelo Mathews was a surprise omission from the Sri Lanka squad which was initially announced for the ODI World Cup 2023. But as the side got inflicted with multiple injuries, Mathews made a surprise return to the side and made an immediate impact in the win against England. Notably, the willy veteran took two wickets with the ball.
However, he failed to capitulate with both the ball and the bat in fixtures ahead, and in review of the humiliation at the hands of India, Mathews might be the one who faces the axe after the ODI World Cup. With 5’900 runs in 224 ODIs thus far and 3 centuries to his name, Mathews is a legend of Sri Lanka cricket given the tough transition phase the team has been going through for a long time now.
But at the age of 36, Mathews might find this the right time to bid adieu to ODI cricket and continue in the Test format, which suits his style of batting as well.
4. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
Another surprise inclusion in squads of big teams in the ODI World Cup 2023 happened when Ravichandran Ashwin replaced the injured Axar Patel in the Indian contingent just before the tournament started. The 37-year-old is already an ODI World Cup winner, lifting the trophy with the Indian team in 2011.
This is his third World Cup in total and in 116 ODIs, he has 156 wickets with a best of 4/25. In the ongoing tournament, Ashwin played just one game, against Australia in Chennai and picked one wicket. Even before the World Cup began, Ashwin had said that this could be his last ODI World Cup appearance and it looks like Team India are doing their best to give him a fitting farewell.
5. David Willey (England)
David Willey. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Another cricketer who announced his retirement from ODI cricket is England’s David Willey. A few days ago, Willey, 33, announced that the ODI World Cup 2023 would be his last outing for England in international cricket. The decision was made by Willey after he was snubbed by the ECB when they named the list of players who were given central contracts for the upcoming season.
Throughout his international career, he has amassed an impressive record, claiming 94 wickets in 70 ODIs. He was also chosen to England’s provisional 2019 World Cup team, only to be cruelly dropped at the last minute to make room for the quick gun in the form of Jofra Archer.
6. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Perhaps the greatest cricketer produced by Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan might also bid farewell to ODI cricket after the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. As captain, he failed to keep the team on track for the semi-finals as with just one win in 7 games, Bangladesh have been eliminated from the global showdown.
Besides, Shakib also failed with both the bat and the ball in the tournament. Before the CWC 2023 started, Shakib, who has taken 315 wickets and has scored 7’488 from 246 ODI appearances, had said during a press conference that he’ll think of retiring after the Champions Trophy 2025, which is slated to be played in Pakistan.
But given that Bangladesh are at the ninth spot in the ODI World Cup 2023 points table, and with just two matches to go, it will be difficult for them to qualify for the coveted event. Consequently, Shakib Al Hasan who along with Mushfiqur Rahim, is playing his fifth World Cup, might call time on his ODI career to focus on T20Is.
7. David Warner (Australia)
David Warner. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
David Warner has already mapped the remainder of his career and has decided to retire from all three formats in the foreseeable future. This might very well be the southpaw’s final appearance in ODI cricket, with him wanting to call time on his Test career after playing against Pakistan, next year, in Sydney.
Warner is in scintillating form in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, with 413 runs in 6 matches with 2 centuries to his name. Overall, in ODIs thus far, Warner has scored 6’810 runs in 156 matches with 22 centuries at a decent average of 46.01. Australia is well within sight of a semi-final spot and winning the World Cup and retiring as a two-time champion would be a perfect sendoff for David Warner.
8. Ben Stokes (England)
Ben Stokes (Photo Source: Twitter)
Ben Stokes famously unretired from ODIs and returned to the England squad for the ODI World Cup 2023. While he did return, he came into the side as a pure batter and then missed a few games due to an injury he sustained while practicing. And since he has returned to the England XI, he has made only 48 runs in 3 matches with a best of 43.
Also Check: ODI World Cup 2023 Points Table
There is a huge possibility that England might not make it into the semi-finals of the World Cup, as they have only one win in 6 matches and have only two points. This is not the ending Ben Stokes would’ve liked for his ODI career to end for the second time.
9. Mohammed Shami (India)
Mohammed Shami. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Mohammed Shami has been on fire in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Despite being rested for the first four matches by Indian team management in favour of team balance, Shami has picked up 14 wickets in 3 matches. Incredibly enough, during these three appearances, the ace pacer has two five-wicket hauls to his name. He played a huge role in India’s wins over New Zealand, England, and recently, Sri Lanka.
Despite playing his third ODI World Cup, Shami has only played 14 games in all and still managed to pick 45 wickets. In 97 ODIs since making his debut in 2013, he has picked 185 wickets with 4 fifers to his name and a hat-trick in World Cup 2019.
But at the age of 33, and him being one of the key bowlers for India in Test matches, the management might not want him to play any more limited overs matches and strict himself to Test cricket and the IPL. Shami is also smart enough and with the ample pacers to choose from who are waiting in the wing, the Amroha Express might call it a day after the World Cup ends.
10. Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
Quinton de Kock. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
One of the most scintillating batters in this ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, South Africa’s Quinton de Kock shocked the cricketing fraternity, when he announced that he will retire from ODIs after this tournament to focus on T20Is and franchise cricket.
De Kock, however, has set the CWC 2023 on fire, as he is the leading run-getter in the tournament thus far. He has scored a whopping 545 runs in 7 matches so far.
Moreover, he has smacked 4 centuries with a stellar average of 77.85 in the mega event so far. Notably, his highest score has been 174 and his strike rate of 112.60.
Despite this, De Kock has said that he is firm on his decision to retire at the age of 31 from the format, to ensure that he makes enough money for his family in the T20 leagues.
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