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Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari says he may become a lawyer following shock retirement at the age of 25

Ansari has quit the sport at the age of 25: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images
Ansari has quit the sport at the age of 25: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari on Wednesday announced his shock decision to retire from all cricket – just five months after playing Test cricket for England.

Ansari has quit the sport at the age of 25 for reasons that are unclear, though he says he may try to become a lawyer. His last game for Surrey was the drawn Championship fixture against Lancashire earlier this month. The left-arm spinner, who also averaged 30 with the bat in first-class cricket, played four times for England, three Tests and a single one-day international.

Ansari said: “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.

“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 eight and the club has been a hugely important part of my life since then.

“Surrey have always completely supported me and I am extremely grateful to the club for their backing over the years. It is, therefore, with great sadness that I say goodbye.

“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.

“I will look back extremely fondly on playing with some wonderful teams and having the opportunity to perform in front of the best crowds in county cricket at The Oval.

Equally, to have played three Test matches for England was a huge honour and it is something I will undoubtedly savour for the rest of my life. Most of all, I will miss the people with whom I have shared my career and I cherish the relationships that I’ve formed along the way.

“I would like to thank Surrey and its fans for the way they have supported and encouraged me over the last 17 years. I am now looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life, but I know that Surrey will always feel like a home to me.”