Ex Pak blind captain Razzaq says he retired due to injury rather than out of grudge

Karachi, Apr 27(ANI): Former Pakistan blind cricket team captain Abdul Razzaq has clarified that he retired from cricket due to a injury rather than out of grudge.

"My decision was primarily based upon medical advice due to an injury - I fractured my foot during the India series. Secondly, once I was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, there was not another accolade that one could hope for. I felt that I had no other achievement to wish for," PakPassion.net quoted him, as saying.

He also pointed out that playing Blind cricket enables a player to live just within means and added that match fees is around 5,000 Pakistan rupees and on a central contract, one can make close to 12,000 Pakistan rupees on a monthly basis.

Razzaq said he had to encounter many difficulties when he took to cricket, saying that blind people are always considered as a societal burden and added that they had no intial support from the government.

He added that the blind cricket hogged the limelight only after winning the 2002 World Cup.

"What seemed to happen after that was that whilst cricket for the blind was well organized in the bigger cities with regular games and facilities, no one could imagine playing cricket in the less developed or rural areas," he added.

He attributed his successful captaincy stint to the unity within the team and good understanding with players and administration.

On being asked about a void created in the team due to his retirement, Razzaq said that he has nominated two or three players, who thinks are capable of succeeding him as a captain, to the board. (ANI)