Imran Farhat retires from international cricket

Imran Farhat, the Pakistan batsman, announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday. He made the decision after meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board to get a No-Objection Certificate to participate in the Masters Champions League which starts tomorrow.

Farhat's decision is in line with the PCB's policy that requires those wishing to play in the MCL, a T20 tournament for retired cricketers, to sign a letter announcing the end of their international careers, which would be irrevocable in the future. Only then would the board grant NOCs.

Farhat, 33, last represented Pakistan in June 2013, but has been a regular feature in Pakistan's domestic circuit. He has played 181 first-class matches and 191 List A matches, but was left out in the drafts for the inaugural Pakistan Super League in February. His latest appearance was in a national one-day championship fixture for Habib Bank on January 22.

Farhat, who has signed with the Sagittarius Strikers, joins former team-mates Abdul Razzaq, Saleem Elahi, Mohammad Yousuf, Saqlain Mushtaq, Rana Naved, Taufiq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Azhar Mehmood, Hasan Raza, Humayun Farhat, Mohammad Khalil in the tournament.

In all, Farhat, who made his international debut as an 18-year old in 2001, played 40 Tests with three centuries, 58 ODIs with one century and seven T20Is.