Faiz Fazal, who struck a half-century in his sole game for India, announced his retirement from professional cricket following Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy match against Haryana.
He departs as Vidarbha’s greatest run-getter in both first-class and List-A cricket, as well as the only player to have played over 100 red-ball games for the team.
“Tomorrow marks the end of an era as I step onto the Nagpur ground for the last time, where my journey in first-class cricket began 21 incredible years ago,” Fazal wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday. “It’s been an unforgettable ride, filled with cherished memories that I’ll hold dear forever.”
“Representing both the Indian Cricket Team and Vidarbha has been the greatest honor of my life, and donning those cricket jerseys has always filled me with immense pride. Farewell to my beloved Number 24 jersey – you’ll be deeply missed,” he wrote.
“As one chapter closes, another awaits, and while bidding adieu to my professional cricket career fills me with mixed emotions, I’m eagerly looking forward to embracing the new adventures that lie ahead.”
The 38-year-old opener appeared in 137 first-class matches, 113 List A games, and 66 Twenty20 matches. He captained Vidarbha in 53 first-class games, 36 List-A games, and 27 Twenty20 matches.
He made his international debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe, batting an unbeaten 55 as India won by ten wickets. It would be his only outing in the national colors.
Fazal made his debut in his thirties, becoming the first Indian to do so in 16 years. He is also the first Indian to have scored fifty or more in his one ODI appearance. Overall, he became the third player to have this distinction, behind Australia’s Ashley Woodcock and England’s Kim Barnett. England’s Ben Foakes and South Africa’s Zubayr Hamza both hit half-centuries in their only ODI outings, but they are still active and can earn additional caps in the format.
Fazal scored 151 on debut in 2003 and had low scores of 1 and 0 in his final appearance for Vidarbha, finishing with 9184 runs in first-class cricket, including 24 hundreds and 39 fifties. He also has 3641 List A runs, at an average of 67.91.
Earlier in Ranji Trophy season, Saurabh Tiwary declared his retirement, while Varun Aaron retired from red-ball cricket.
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