During the recent weeks, four renowned cricketers announced retirement: Pakistan’s Imad Waseem and Mohammad Amir, New Zealand’s Tim Southee and India’s Ravichandran Ashwin.

Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, who had both reversed their decisions to retire from international cricket to play the T20 World Cup earlier this year, have re-retired. Both players were picked in the Pakistan side for the T20 World Cup, played in the USA and the Caribbean in June, and their last appearances for Pakistan were in the same game -- a group-stage fixture against Ireland in Lauderhill on June 16. Pakistan failed to make it out of the group stage.

Amir burst onto the international scene as a prodigious talent, making his debut for Pakistan in 2009 at the tender age of 17. His unique bowling style, characterised by express pace and the ability to swing the ball both ways, quickly made him one of the most feared bowlers in limited-overs formats.

One of Amir's career highlights came during the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final, where he played a pivotal role in Pakistan's historic victory over India. His brutal spell of fast bowling, which dismantled the Indian batting lineup, is etched in the memories of cricket fans.

Amir's journey was marred by his suspension in 2010 for his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal, leading to a lengthy absence from the game. Amir made a strong comeback, earning accolades for his performances in various domestic leagues and for Pakistan’s national team.

Amir played 61 one-day internationals and took 81 wickets. He grabbed 71 wickets in 62 T20Is. Amir also played 36 Test matches in which he took 119 wickets.

Despite his talent, Amir struggled to secure a consistent place in the national team in recent years. Therefore, his retirement was not unexpected.

Imad, known for his skills with both bat and ball, carved a niche for himself as one of Pakistan's leading all-rounders. Making his debut in 2015, Imad quickly established himself as a dependable player in the limited-overs formats. His left-arm orthodox spin and ability to contribute crucial runs in the lower order made him a valuable asset for the team.

Imad took 44 wickets in 55 ODIs and 73 in 75 T20Is. He played a vital role in several key victories for Pakistan, particularly in T20. His exploits in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) further enhanced his reputation, as he emerged as one of the top performers in the tournament. Imad's experience and leadership skills were instrumental in providing balance to the side, especially during crucial matches.

However, over the past few years, Imad found it challenging to secure a permanent spot in the national setup, competing for places in a strong all-rounder pool.

New Zealand's legendary seam bowler Tim Southee also bid goodbye to international cricket after playing a key role in New Zealand's 423-run win in the third and final Test of the home series against England at Seddon Park in Hamilton. He will, however, make himself available for the World Test Championship final at Lord's in June if New Zealand qualify.

Southee, 35, claimed 391 Test wickets in 107 appearances, second among New Zealanders behind Sir Richard Hadlee (431).

He debuted against England as a 19-year-old in Napier in March 2008.

He recently played a key role in New Zealand's historic 3-0 series win in India, the first by a visiting team since 2012-13. Though he claimed just three wickets across the first two Tests, these included India's captain, Rohit Sharma, as they were bowled out for 46 in the series opener, and their top-scorer, Sarfaraz Khan, in the second innings.

He is the only player with more than 300 wickets in Tests, 200 in one-day internationals (221) and 100 in Twenty20 internationals (164), with the T20 figure the most by any player.

Southee played over 100 international matches in each format -- 107 Tests, 161 ODIs and 126 T20Is. In 391 international games he took 776 wickets -- most by any New Zealander. Only nine men have more wickets.

After the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, Indian all-rounder Ashwin suddenly announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket.

The 38-year-old, revered for his match-winning spells and spin wizardry, ended a 13-year-long career, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cricket.

Ashwin retires as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, with 537 wickets in 106 matches, only behind Anil Kumble’s 619. Across all formats, the spinner claimed 775 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls in Tests.

Ashwin played 106 Tests (537 wickets), 116 one-day internationals (156 wickets) and 65 Twenty20 internationals with 72 wickets.

He also holds the record for the fastest player globally to reach 350 Test wickets, achieving the milestone in just 66 matches.

Debuting in 2010, Ashwin played a pivotal role in India's dominance in home Tests, forming a formidable spin partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. His ability to innovate and adapt made him a critical figure in India’s red-ball success.

khurrams87@yahoo.com