Saba Karim calls it a day

Plagued by a persistent eye problem, wicket-keeper Saba Karim today announced his retirement from cricket.

Karim, who donned the gloves for India in one test and 34 one day internationals, injured his eye against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup last year at Dhaka when an Anil Kumble delivery struck him in the right eye off the batsman's boot.

Despite surgery in Chennai and treatment abroad, his eyesight had not shown signs of recovery.

"I have decided to retire not only from first class cricket, but also from club cricket. But I'll be available if my office Tata Steel wants my services for the Times Shield," the 34-year old Karim said.

The wicket-keeper batsman, who made his debut in the Ranji Trophy for Bihar in 1982-83 as a promising 15-year old, said "I have no option but to call it a day as my doctor informed me last month that the retina of my right eye had suffered permanent damage".

Making his one-day cricket debut with a bang scoring 55 off 48 deliveries against the formidable South Africans in 1996, Karim has totalled 352 runs in 34 limited over matches for the country. He also took 27 catches and effected three stumpings.

Karim described East Zone's double triumph in Deodhar Trophy under his captaincy as the most memorable moment of his career.

Mail Cricket Editor