Dravid to retire from ODIs

India's Rahul Dravid watches his teammates applaud him from the pavilion after scoring a century in the second innings on the third day of the first cricket Test match against West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, Wednesday June 22, 2011. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

Rahul Dravid, who was surprisingly recalled to the Indian limited-overs squad, had a surprise announcement of his own after the practice match concluded: he said he would retire from the shorter formats.

He will, however, be available for both the Twenty20 International and ODIs in England, which will be his last limited-overs games.

Reading out a prepared statement here on Saturday, Dravid said: “I am honoured and privileged to be picked in the one-day team. I was obviously a little surprised. Since I was not picked for the last two years I had not informed the selectors or the board of my desire to solely focus on Test cricket.

“At the end of this ODI series, I would like to announce my retirement from ODI and T20 cricket and concentrate purely and solely on Test cricket. I am committed to give my best to India in the current series.

“This ODI series is going to be my last.”