Did you know Saba Karim forcefully retired at 33 after an eye injury?

Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim had to retire from the game when he was just 33 years of age. On his birthday, we take a look at other instances when talented cricketers had to retire early due to health issues

Updated On: 2019-11-14 08:40 AM IST

Saba Karim injury

Saba Karim: The Bengal and India wicketkeeper-batsman represented the country in 34 ODIs and one Test. He was forced to retire after being hit in the right eye by an Anil Kumble delivery that came off the batsman's boot while keeping wickets during an ODI vs Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2000. He underwent surgery and never played cricket again.

Mark Boucher: The Proteas keeper had to retire following a freak eye injury sustained while playing a practice match against Somerset. A googly from Imran Tahir hit the stumps and a dislodged bail struck Boucher in the left eye. The England tour was supposed to mark his 150th Test appearance, but sadly, the South Africam wicket-keeper was forced to retire with 998 international dismissals, including 555 from 147 Tests, which is a record

Shaun Tait: Dubbed 'The Wild Thing', Shaun Tait was considered one of the fastest bowlers in the world, but in January 2008, he announced that he would take an indefinite break from cricket since he was physically and emotionally exhausted. Then in 2011, he announced his retirement from the one-day format. Tait was only be 28 years old at the time. His action led to persistent back problems over the years.

Jonathan Trott: The stylish cricketer returned home from England's tour of Australia with a stress-related illness. He took a break from all forms of cricket for the 'forseeable future'. He spent four months away from the game working with a psychologist and the ECB's medical team in a bid to rebuild his career. He came back to domestic cricket, but experienced a repeat of the same symptoms after playing for his county Warwickshire against Sussex in 2014. Trott has played in 49 Tests for England, scoring nine centuries and 18 half-centuries. He has scored 3,763 Test runs at an average of 46.45. He ultimately announced his retirement from international cricket in May 2015 after accepting that he couldn't recreate the form that made him one of their best and most reliable batsmen of the modern era. Trott's return to the England side ended in failure when when he was dismissed for five single figure scores, including three ducks, in six Test innings against West Indies.

Luke Pomersbach: The Australian decided to end his cricket career to battle depression. The left-handed batsman who played one T20 International at the WACA in December 2007 had a troubled career in his native Western Australia. Four times he was suspended by the WACA and in 2009 he escaped a jail sentence when he admitted to assaulting a police officer and drunken driving. He was found drinking, missing a practice session in 2011, and subsequently announced that he would take the summer off from representing Western Australia in an effort to address his problems. The next season he was in trouble again. He was charged with assault in India when a US national alleged that Pomersbach, who played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, had assaulted her and her fiance in their room at a Delhi hotel. The case was withdrawn after an out-of-court settlement.

James Taylor: Nottinghamshire and England batsman James Taylor has been forced to retire from all forms of cricket after he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Doctors have revealed that the 26-year-old has ARVC (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy), a condition similar to that of former footballer Fabrice Muamba who collapsed on the field in 2012. Taylor had played seven Tests after making his debut against South Africa at Headingley in 2012. He had also played 27 ODIs with an average of 42.23 with seven fifties including a top score of 101 against Australia at Old Trafford in September 2015.

Craig Kieswetter: The England and Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman retired from all forms of cricket in June 2015 due to an eye injury. Kieswetter was forced to retire after suffering a horrific eye injury while batting for Somerset against Northamptonshire in a county game in July 2014 and could not make any international appearances thereafter. He played 46 ODIs and 25 T20Is for England. He was a important reason for England winning the 2010 Qorld T20 title in the Caribbean.

Nari Contractor: He was the captain of the Indian team during their tour to the West Indies in 1961/62 when a Charlie Griffith delivery hit him on the head during a tour match in Bridgetown. The near-fatal blow to the head that caused a skull fracture saw Contractor being ruled out of the remainder of the series. Thus at an early age of 28, Nari's international cricket career was over. He resumed playing first-class cricket until he retired in 1970-71 but never played for India again.

Beau Casson: Australia and New South Wales spinner Beau Casson, who played one Test for his country, was forced to quit all forms of the game due to a heart condition in November 2011. The 28-year-old was told by medical experts that he would be risking his life if he continued playing cricket because of his heart condition 'Tetralogy of Fallot'. He played 53 first-class matches for Western Australia and New South Wales, taking 123 wickets at 43.04. An accomplished lower order batsman, he scored 1500 First class runs at an average of 22.38.

Marcus Trescothick: Marcus Trescothick returned home from England's tour of India in February 2006 claiming he was suffering from a virus. Later the same year, he travelled to Australia but after playing in the first two warm-up matches he flew home with a 'stress-related illness'. Then in 2008, he announced an early retirement from international cricket because of mental health issues.

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