Former opener Virender Sehwag expresses his disappointment at not getting a perfect send-off
Virender Sehwag during a Champion County match for Marylebone Cricket Club against Durham at Abu Dhabi last year
New Delhi: Virender Sehwag, who has recently called time on his glorious international cricket career, says the sadness of being "deprived of a farewell game shall always remain" in his mind.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also read: Sachin Tendulkar stopped me from retiring in 2007, says Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag during a Champion County match for Marylebone Cricket Club against Durham at Abu Dhabi last year. Pic/Getty Images
"Had the selectors told me that they were going to drop me, I could have requested them to allow me to play my last Test in Delhi and then announce my retirement, but they did not give me that opportunity.
"A sort of sadness shall always remain in my mind that I was not allowed to retire while playing, but anyway, it's all a part of life for a sportsman, who, while playing, never realises when he should retire, but he starts thinking about it when he is dropped," Sehwag told India TV's show 'Aap Ki Aadalat'.
Also read: Virender Sehwag did not want a farewell match, says Coach AN Sharma
The explosive batsman made 23 Test centuries and 15 tons in ODIs. "I would like to ask: Doesn't a player who has played 12 to 13 years for his country, deserve a farewell match?"
On organisers planning to give him a farewell during the forthcoming Test in Delhi between India and South Africa starting December 3, Sehwag said: "If that is so, it will be good. If BCCI cannot organise, at least DDCA should. It's not a question of me alone, every player who retires should get a farewell."
Also read: Virender Sehwag set to retire from international cricket
The former opener said there should be fixed criteria for selection of players, whether senior or junior. "If a player fails to perform in four or five consecutive matches, he should be dropped irrespective of whether he is a senior or a junior player," he said.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
