Cricket News: South African great Hashim Amla announces his retirement

Hashim Amla, a renowned South African batter, has declared his retirement from all forms of the game. The 39-year-old was still playing in the domestic circuit despite having already proclaimed his retirement from international cricket.

He participated in 349 international games for South Africa and amassed 18,672 runs in all three forms of the game. The top-order batsman is regarded as one of the best players to have ever represented for the Proteas.

Amla has registered 27 tonnes in one-day internationals and 28 test hundreds in 124 games. The Durban-born cricketer, who scored 311 runs against England at The Oval on July 22, 2012, became South Africa's first triple-centurion. The cricketer signed up to play for Surrey in 2019 and has also played for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the Indian Premier League.

The South African great currently used to play in county cricket and belonged to the team's leadership group. He also scored a lot of runs during his time in in the county cricket. The cricketer bid Surrey farewell and expressed his gratitude for the chance he had to play for them.

"I have great memories of the Oval ground and to finally leave it as a player fills me with immense gratitude for what has been. A sincere thank you to Alec Stewart and the entire Surrey staff, players and members for their support. The Surrey ship runs so professionally that it would make any international player feel a sense of honour just to be involved with. I wish them all the best and many more trophies,"

Said Amla.

Due to his consistency in the starting lineup, Amla has played in more Test matches than anybody other than Jacques Kallis since making his South African debut in 2004. He was an important member of the Proteas team for many years, but regrettably he never helped South Africa win an ICC trophy during that time.

Alec Stewart praised Amla after his announcement and described him as "a consummate professional and a great of the game." Alec Stewart worked with Amla throughout his time with Surrey.

"Hashim is a fantastic cricketer and a wonderful person. He has been an incredible resource for the team to learn from on and off the field. As well as posting big scores at vital moments, he has also shown his willingness to dig in and do what is needed to get his team a result in tough games.

I can't thank him enough for what he has done for Surrey and hold him up as an example to all young players of what a true professional looks like,"

Stewart said.

The South African fans will defiantly miss a steady player like Hashim Amla, who has now hang up his cricket boots.

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