India’s NEHRA to quit internationals, IPL

NEW DELHI: Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket and the Indian Premier League on Thursday after an injury-plagued career.

Nehra, 38, who is part of India’s Twenty20 squad in the ongoing series against Australia, will bow out after the first T20 against New Zealand on November 1 at his home ground in New Delhi.

Nehra, who has suffered a series of injury problems and last played for India in February, said he wanted to go out on top and in front of his home fans.

“It is always good to retire when people are asking why, rather than why not,” he told reporters in Hyderabad ahead of the third T20 WELLINGTON: New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said on Thursday his players need to hit the ground running in India if they want to challenge the world’s top-ranked oneof your home fans where I played my day international team on their home turf.firstRanjiTrophygame20yearsago,” he added. New Zealand, rated fifth in the

India will host New Zealand for world, play the first of three onethree one-day internationals and three dayers against India in Mumbai on T20 matches starting October 22. October 22.

The left-arm quick has collected Hesson said the Virat Kohli-led 157 ODI wickets plus 44 Test and 34 Indians showed their potency in T20 scalps during his 18-year career, the recent 4-1 ODI series win over since making his debut in the five-day Australia. format in 1999. “Look, their record at home has

The Delhi native was a vital part of been phenomenal in the last two or India’s 2003 World Cup campaign in three years,” he told reporters as the South Africa, where the team ended team departed New Zealand. up as runners-up to Australia. “You know going over there that

He is best remembered for his you have to perform, otherwise you figures of 6-23 against England get taught a pretty harsh lesson. at Durban during the 50-over It’s important for us to adapt really tournament. Nehra was also a part of quickly.” the 2011 World Cup-winning squad. Hesson travels to India with a core

of nine players, including captain Kane against Australia on Friday.

“I have spoken to the team management as well as the chairman of selection committee. It can’t get bigger than getting to retire in front