One of India’s finest all-rounders, Yuvraj Singh, who announced retirement from all forms of cricket on Monday, will bid adieu to the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well. He, however, will be available for franchise-based leagues overseas.
Yuvraj is likely to get the BCCI’s permission to play T20 leagues around the world but he has not yet formally written to the board seeking its nod.
Yuvraj on Monday called time on his glorious international career and expressed a desire to play overseas leagues for “fun”.
“He has not yet written to the board and once he does that, then only we can consider his case. But since he will not be playing the IPL, there is little ground for not giving him the permission. Retired players of his stature have been allowed to play outside India,” a BCCI official told PTI .
The BCCI has barred active players from taking part in overseas T20 leagues and that is one of the reasons, Yuvraj considered retirement to make himself available for competitions around the world.
Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, who had retired from international cricket, were allowed to be part of the T10 League in the UAE.
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“If Sehwag can play overseas after retirement, I don’t see an issue with Yuvraj doing the same. He is a retired player now and his contribution to Indian cricket is immense and should be valued always,” said another BCCI official.
Last month, Irfan Pathan became the first Indian player to be included in the Caribbean Premier League draft though he remains an active first-class player and did not take prior permission from the BCCI.
The BCCI had also withdrawn his brother Yusuf’s NOC for participation in a Hong Kong T20 tournament two years ago.
After announcing his retirement, Yuvraj said he is looking forward to play in foreign T20 leagues.
“I want to play T20 cricket. At this age I can manage to play some kind of fun cricket. I want to go and enjoy my life. It’s been too stressful just thinking about my international career, performing and big tournaments like the IPL,” said Yuvraj.
“Now I would like to enjoy myself. With BCCI’s permission I would like to go and play. Just have fun for this year and maybe next year, whatever is left in me. It’s been a very long and hard journey and I think I deserve that,” he added.
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The 37-year-old, who was the costliest cricketer in 2014 and 2015 editions of the IPL, was picked up at his base price of Rs 1 crore this time by Mumbai Indians.
And Yuvraj admitted that he had been thinking about calling it a day since last year.
“Last year only I had thought that this year’s IPL will be my last,” an emotional Yuvraj said on Monday.
“I am not available for IPL. I have retired from BCCI and international cricket. I am looking forward to play outside India (in T20 leagues).”
In his long career, Yuvraj has captained Kings XI Punjab and the now defunct Pune Warriors. He had also represented Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad, before moving to Mumbai Indians this year.
The left-handed batsman, who played just four matches for Mumbai Indians and scored 98 runs at an average of 24.50 including a half-century this year, felt it would have been better had he got more opportunities to play and bow out on a high.
“I was confused with my career and how I would end it. I would have been satisfied if I could have played more games in IPL, would have been happy to leave the sport with that."
“But you don’t get everything in life. I had decided last year that this IPL would be my last and I’ll give it my best shot,” Yuvraj said.
Now, he wants to try his luck in overseas leagues if he gets the clearance from the BCCI. “I have spoken to the BCCI already. I will speak to them again. I hope it’s a smooth sailing for me,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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