Kabir Ali retires from cricket

Kabir Ali, the former England allrounder, has called time on his cricket career because of a long-standing shoulder injury. Having injured his shoulder in last season's Natwest T20 Blast, Ali underwent surgery but failed to recover. He decided to retire after doctors told him he would require more surgery.

"I underwent major surgery and did all the rehab but when I tried to bowl, I struggled to get any pace," Kabir said. "Doctors have suggested that I need further surgery, and that is a one-year process, and then there is no guarantee on me playing. I went out to Barbados, hoping the hot conditions might help the process as a last resort. It almost shattered me because deep down, I knew something was not quite right in the shoulder."

Ali last played domestic cricket in August 2014, for Lancashire, before he was released by the county in October after he injured himself. He has also played for Hampshire and Worcestershire. He took 500 wickets and scored 2755 runs in first-class cricket, to go with 261 List A wickets.

"It would be unfair for me to push myself to other counties," he said. "It's a sad time because for the last 16 years all I have done is play cricket, whether it's in England or overseas."

Ali, 34, played one Test against South Africa at Headingley in 2003, and 14 ODIs for England, picking up 20 wickets at an average of 34.10.