Zafar Ansari, the England all-rounder who played three Tests and one one-day international, has announced a surprise retirement from all cricket at the age of 25. Ansari, who made his international debut for England in May 2015, said he is “now exploring another career, potentially in law”.
Ansari, who bats left-handed and bowls left-arm spin, played two Tests during the tour of India last year. In three Tests, Ansari scored 49 runs and took five wickets. His only one-day international was against Ireland in 2015, a rained-out match in which he didn’t bat or bowl.
Ansari played for Surrey in the county circuit. “After seven years as a professional cricketer and almost two decades in total playing the game, I have decided to bring my cricket career to an end, ”Ansari was quoted by a Surrey County Cricket Club press release.
“This has been a very difficult decision to make and I have not made it lightly. I started playing for Surrey at the age of 8 and the club has been a hugely important part of my life since then.
“Nevertheless, I have always been clear that when the time was right for me to move on I would, and that time has now come. While the timing may come as a surprise, I have always maintained that cricket was just one part of my life and that I have other ambitions that I want to fulfil. With that in mind, I am now exploring another career, potentially in law, and to achieve this I have to begin the process now.”
Ansari went to Cambridge University, where he achieved a Double First in Politics, Philosophy and Sociology in 2013. He began a Master’s degree in history at Royal Holloway, University of London, which he completed with a Distinction at the end of last year, while still playing professionally for Surrey and England.
