Former UAE captain Ahmed Raza announces retirement from all cricket

Ahmed Raza, the former UAE captain, has announced his retirement from cricket with immediate effect.

The 34-year-old spinner is set to take up a role as part of the national team’s coaching staff.

“It is with great pride that I am announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket,” Raza said.

“After much thought, I believe this is the right time to step away from the game that has given me so much love and respect over the last 17 years.

“Representing and leading my country in the great sport of cricket has been one of the greatest honours of mine.”

Raza has been part of the national team since debuting in a game in Abu Dhabi in 2006 against an India A side that included the likes of Rohit Sharma in its ranks.

He went on to become a mainstay of the line up, and, over the course of two spells, became statistically the most successful captain in the history of the national team.

A post shared by Ahmed Raza (@ahmedraza.uae)

Raza has been part of the national team set since in a game in Abu Dhabi in 2006 against an India A side including the likes of Rohit Sharma, the current India captain, and Ravindra Jadeja, in its ranks.

He went on to become a mainstay of the line up, and, over the course of two spells, became statistically the most successful captain in the history of the national team.

Between 2014 and 2022, Raza led UAE in 56 limited overs internationals, of which the side won 32. His 66 per cent win rate across ODIs and T20Is is considerable better than the overall rate of the national team, which is 42 per cent.

During his second stint at the helm, which started on the eve of the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier, he took over a side rocked by a corruption crisis which has since seen seven players banned from the