Imran Khan, the legendary all-rounder and former Pakistan captain, has revealed that he retired at the peak of his career because he did not want to be at the mercy of selectors.
The 59-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, retired from the game after leading Pakistan to the title triumph in the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 in Melbourne.
Prior to that, the great all-rounder had called it a day after the mega event played in the sub-continent in 1987; however, the decision had to be reversed upon a personal request by General Zia-ul-Haq, the former President of Pakistan.
After the World Cup glory, Imran was able to complete his dream, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT), which remains the only cancer hospital in the country.
The legendary all-rounder expressed that he continued to play after the 1987 World Cup just to raise funds for the SKMT.
"The reason I retired was because I did not want to be at the mercy of the selectors. I wanted to go out at my peak," said Imran. "The only reason I kept playing was for the cancer hospital. The board of governance told me that if you get out of cricket you won't be able to collect money."
With a batting average of 37.69 runs per innings and a bowling average of 22.81 runs per wicket, the ‘Pathan’ remains one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game. On top of that, he converted Pakistan into a genuine power in international cricket with his astonishing leadership skills.
The former skipper further commented that he had achieved all he wanted to as an individual player by the late-1980s and wished to retire so that people remember him with good memories. He also mentioned the former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, who also left the game when he was still fit to play.
"Having seen those heights, I just did not want people saying it's the time you should leave. That's why I respect Sunil Gavaskar. He could have gone on. Sunil had one of the best defensive techniques I have seen in a batsman," the former great added.
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