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Former Pakistan players have praised Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne for his decision to retire from international cricket at the peak of his career.

“He is at the moment bowling at his peak. Yet he has decided to retire and go out leaving behind great memories of his performance and his bowling. He deserves the credit for bowing out at his peak and setting a good example for others to follow,” said former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad.

Warne announced that he would retire after the current Ashes series. The leg-spinner, who requires just one more wicket to complete 700 Test victims, is widely hailed as the greatest bowler in the history of cricket.

Miandad said he had never seen a more effective wicket-taker than Warne.

“I have played and seen some other leg-spinners with more variety, but Warne was a master of his trade. His strike rate is amazing,” he said.

Former skipper Rashid Latif said cricketers from the sub-continent in particular need to learn something from Warne’s brave decision.

“Our players must learn when the right time for them to go is. Warne could have played on for one or two years more on his current form. But he chose to retire when he is on a high,” Rashid said.

“Our players must also learn to go out when there is respect and regard for them. Unfortunately in our part of the world, the trend is for players to hang on and be forced out in unceremonious fashion leaving behind bitter memories,” he added.

Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq said Warne’s figures installed him as the greatest spinner of modern day cricket. “You don’t need to say much when you look at this Test bowling figures. They are awesome,” he said.

Pakistan and India have produced outstanding leg-spinners in Abdul Qadir, Mushtaq Ahmed, and Anil Kumble and now Danish Kaneria in recent times, but none of them could attain the success that Warne has tasted.

“Only a few batsmen have played him with comfort and I remember it was not easy surviving against him for a long period. You needed to attack him to put him off his line,” former middle order batsman Basit Ali explained.
Source:The News

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