I am not leaving with selectors' permission, says Nehra

Ashish Nehra has mounted a counter-attack on chief selector MSK Prasad for his comments on the seamer’s retitement, saying he started playing without selectors’ permission and leaving it likewise.

"When I started playing cricket, I didn't take any selector's permission. When I am leaving, I am not leaving with their permission," Nehra said after his final game. The terse statement was in response to a question on chief selector MSK Prasad's comment a few days ago that Nehra had been told he would not be considered for selection beyond the T20 series against New Zealand. "We have clearly communicated to Ashish Nehra, and to the team management that we are only looking at him till the New Zealand series," Prasad had said.

Nehra walked into cricketing sunset on Wednesday after an 18-year injury-ravaged international career, which had witnessed many highs and lows. "I heard this," Nehra said when asked about Prasad's comments. "I don't know. The chairman of selection committee has not spo- ken to me about this. You have asked me this question, and I can only tell you about my interaction with the team management.

"When I reached Ranchi, I told Virat about my plan, and his first reaction was, 'Are you sure? You can still play IPL. You can play as coach-cum-player.' I said no. I am retiring completely." The 38-year-old made it clear that he did not ask for a farewell game, calling himself lucky that he got one in front of his home crowd. "I have been saying this again and again. Luckily this game happened to be in Delhi. I have not asked for a farewell game or anything. "I hope Virat and coach Ravi Shastri are part of the team management because those are the people I spoke to. I have not spoken to any selector over this issue." Nehra said he was convinced about his decision to call it quits and was happy to see the progress made by Bhuvneshwar Kumar alongside Jasprit Bumrah, two of the best seam bowlers around in these conditions. "When I went there, I felt that Bhuvneshwar Kumar was ready. If you had seen earlier, Bumrah and I have been playing. "Even today people were wondering if Ashish Nehra will play or not, but if I was in the 15 today, I was obviously going to play. I didn't come to just look around," Nehra told reporters. Nehra was asked about his absence from the limited-overs sides post the 2011 Word Cup triumph. The lanky seamer injured his finger in the semi-fi- nal, which proved to be his last ODI, while his next T20I came almost five years later, for the World T20 at home. "I don't know about myself but I am sure people outside would have thought if Ashish Nehra has retired or if he will ever play again," Nehra said of that phase.

There are regrets, there were injuries and that is true for everyone. Even Sachin Tendulkar would have thought that he could have got another 5000 runs. You are never satisfied in chasing your dreams. But you have to be realistic, says Nehra.