Saeed Anwar confirms retirement

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
21

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by yaasir: *

Well said LH. Also he made statments such as "Afridi should forget playing for Pakistan for at least a year." Im not saying I disagre with that statement or that Afridi should be back, but Amir Sohail as the chief selector should be more careful with such statments. Instead of making such stupid comments, he should encourage the players and say if anyone plays well, doesnt matter if its Afridi or Nazir or whoever, will get selected to play for Pakistan.
[/QUOTE]

encourage who????? afridi!!!!!!!!! this guy has been "encouraged" for the last 6 years. what has it gotten us. and lahorimunda please do tell us what the previous selectors have accomplished so far. and then compare it with amir's. and if supporting someone on basis of what FACTS is ass kissing then so be it. it seems as if you need a dose of reality not me. and don't put words in my mouth. never did i say that my opinion is the only one that matters.

22

I would never try to put words in your mouth but would suggest that you get some reading glasses. Nowhere I said that you opinion is the only one that matters, you were bashing everyone that posted before you did and I was pointing out to the fatc that their opinion matters too and whatever you believe is not always the reality.

As for what did the previous seletors achieve. Well first of all none of the previous seletors announced that a person is selected on his popularity. Mind you he said “Besides, [Imran] is not only a popular choice of the followers of the game,”**Source : Cricinfo" **

Plus never did the previous seletors insisted that the team formation they prefer be followed. Amir made it clear that Shoaib Malik is not to be utilized as an opener or at one down position.

As for what have we gotten from Afridi, well its unthankful people like you that would say nothing, he has played some match winning innings and have cipped in with crucial wickets at times. Yes, maybe not with the same consistency as the team would have prefered but still he has given something, which proves he has the potential. Saying he can forget about coming back tothe team for about a year is stupid for someone in Amir’s position.

Amir is an ego maniac who likes being in the news so he issues all those crazy statements. Its time he realise his job is to select the best possible team for the country and not enter in some populairty contest.

23

Nicely said LM, Amir Sohail is an idiot.
He has so far no benefited the team in anyway.
His personal grudges and opinions have gotten in the teams best interest.

24

The Game Responds:

      *Saeed Anwar should just announce retirement instead of giving out hints regarding when he will exactly be doing that; I just want that man to retire with some dignity. Time to move on, my friends. People, That Is All.*
25

reading glass for who. ME. go back to your last reply when you said, and i quote "Rana jee welcome to the world of reality where everyone's opinion counts" should'nt be hard to find since it's the first thing you said in that post. and yes i am a ungrateful *******. i have no patience for someone who plays well for 5 out of 50 matches and throw away their wickets the next 45 times. you guys call amir sohail an asshole, idiot, ego-maniac but you fail to tell me with facts what the previous selectors did. for all i care amir can cuss me and my whole family out as long as the team is showing encouraging signs like previous 3 tournaments.

26

Chanda koi nai baat karo I answered all those questions in my previous post. Thats the reason I suggested glasses too.

27

**Saeed Anwar confirms retirement **

Wisden CricInfo staff - August 15, 2003

Pakistan’s former opening batsman, Saeed Anwar, has announced his retirement, after being overlooked for the forthcoming series against Bangladesh.

Anwar recently told the Press Trust of India that retirement was on his mind, and today he confirmed his intentions at a news conference. **“I enjoyed my cricket for Pakistan,” he said, “and after 15 years today I announce my retirement from international and first-class cricket.” **

Anwar, 34, scored 4052 runs at 45.52 in 55 Tests, and 8823 runs at 39.21 in 247 ODIs. His defining innings was his 194 against India at Madras in 1997 – the highest score by any batsman in one-day cricket.

28

A sad day for Pakistan Cricket. This man will surely be remembered as one of the finest and stylish openers World of Cricket has seen.

29

A very sad day indeed. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the great batsmen Pakistan has ever produced. Good luck to him in his future life and *thank you for all the pleasure you gave us during your playing days, especially that innings of 194 against India. *

30

Sidelined Anwar calls it a day](Yahoo is part of the Yahoo family of brands.)

KARACHI (Reuters) - Sidelined Pakistan opening batsman Saeed Anwar has announced his retirement from all cricket.

“I am happy that I am leaving the game when many people feel I can still play on for another two years. But I have also been disheartened by the selectors’ decision to ignore me after the World Cup,” Anwar told a news conference.

**The 34-year-old attacking left-hander ended a 15-year career with 4,052 runs at a world-class average of 45.52 in 55 tests and 8,823 runs, averaging 39.21, in 247 one-day internationals.

A fine driver of the ball, he made 11 centuries in tests and 20 in one-dayers.

He also holds the record for the highest individual score in a one-day international, 194 against India at Madras in 1997.**

Anwar’s decision came two months after former team mate Wasim Akram announced his retirement from international cricket.

He and Wasim were among eight senior players dropped after Pakistan failed to qualify for the second stage of this year’s World Cup.

Despite struggling increasingly with long-term knee problems Anwar, sporting a thick beard, was the only Pakistan batsman to score a hundred in the tournament, making 103 in the defeat against India.

He had said he hoped to play for two more years.

“But the Board and selectors felt otherwise. I don’t have any grievances against them. But yes, their decision to ignore me after the World Cup has influenced me somewhat.”

Anwar, who forged a fine opening partnership with Aamer Sohail for Pakistan, became a devout Muslim after the death of his infant daughter in August 2001 and took a break from the game.

His career was tainted by controversy as one of five players fined by a Pakistan match-fixing commission for not co-operating with their investigations.

“I regret taking part in the rebellion against Wasim Akram’s captaincy in 1994 and I also regret that the Justice Malik Qayyum match-fixing inquiry commission fined me three years back although it found no evidence of me being involved in match-fixing,” he said.

Anwar had begun his test career inauspiciously, with a pair on his debut against the West Indies in 1989 at Faisalabad. His last test innings, however, provided the perfect send-off, a century against Bangladesh at Multan in August 2001.

Anwar described his hundred against India in the Asian Test Championship at Calcutta in 1999 as his most memorable innings, adding he had particularly enjoyed his battles with Australians Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

“When you are in form you can play any bowler. But these two bowlers, they were very aggressive and competitive, and I enjoyed the challenge of scoring runs against them.”

31

Saeed Anwar - What a class act! He was a great player to watch and was nothing short of awesome when he was in good form and had the bat flowing freely.

Thank you, Saeed Bhai for the pleasure you have given to all Cricket fans. You’ll be missed! :teary3:

32

I think it is good decision :k:

Saeed was a wonderful circketer. Unfortunately i haven’t been able to see (due to the small amount of cricket here on TV :mad: ) many big innings by him, but the ones i have seen were fabulous :k:

33

Great cricket, will be missed. I wish he had played much more. Thank you Saeed bhai for the great cricket :k:

34

Saeed Anwar. The majestic left hander who did not have the elegance of Mark Waugh or the talent of Sachin Tendulkar or the class of Inzimam-ul-Haq, yet somehow at times he overshadowed all of them. Saeed was a hard working man. He has given so much to Pakistan cricket. While Pakistan was producing one brilliant bowler after another our batting always lacked consistent player. We had quality batsmen in our line up but none of them were consistent. Saeed bough the much needed stabilty to Pakistan team.

In some ways Saeed can also be termed as the pioneer of scoring quick runs in early over in Pakistan. Before Saeed our policy have always been to play slow initially and try and preserve wickets till the end. Saeed at his peak was one of the most consistent openers of his time. He might not go down in the books as the best opener but he sure was one of the best openers. He was one of the rare batsmen who had the ability to raise his game a notch when it mattered the most. Thank you very much Saeed Anwar for your fluent run scoring for Pakistan over the years.
:jhanda:

35

Its about time, finally he was grceful enough to call it a day.
Why can't guys like Waqar do the same.

36

A champion player and a great batsman who took Pak cricket to newer heights.

Best wishes Saeed bhai.

37

Probably one of the most exciting batsman I have ever seen, almost all of his shots were stylish and attractive, and never bored me to death unlike other world class batsman.
Before we had worries about who will open with Anwar, but now wh have 2 worries.

38

PCB plan befitting farewell for Saeed

KARACHI: Saeed Anwar who announced his retirement on Friday has been told by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Lt General Tauqir Zia that he would be given a befitting farewell in the season and that there is always a place for him if he wants to take up coaching assignments.

Sources confirmed that Tauqir Zia had called up Saeed and inquired about his retirement. “Tauqir told Saeed that the board was sad to see him retire and would organize a befitting reception in the season to pay tribute to his contribution to Pakistan cricket,” a source said.

“Tauqir also assured him that if he wanted to remain linked with the sport, the Board would be happy to offer him coaching assignments,” the source added.

Saeed, however, made it clear that while he would like to work as a batting coach at the National cricket academy in Lahore and help groom young openers, but he would like to do this in independently and without interference from anyone.

"I would be willing to do something on these lines if the Board constitutes a proper coaching panel which should include players like Wasim Akram, myself, Waqar Younis to do permanent work at the academy. Sources confirmed that Tauqir Zia had called up Saeed and inquired about his retirement.

Saeed had no doubt that the Board should use the experience and talent of the senior players to groom new players in a systematic manner.

**"You can’t find better bowling coaches than Wasim or Waqar. :k:

To me Wasim is the complete bowler compared to any other bowler,"** he said. Saeed said he was also open to any good television commentary offers.

**“In the past Star sports had made some offers but due to my commitments I could not accept them. But now after retirement I intend to start some business and keep in touch with cricket through coaching and commentary assignments,” ** he announced.

39

.

40

Saeed Anwer was definitly one of my favourites. A brilliant batsman who has given us many good memories. A great player indeed.