LAHORE: Pakistan’s Test opening batsman Imran Farhat has announced his retirement from international cricket in a bid to appear in the Masters Champions League (MCL), which commences in Dubai from Friday.
Farhat, 33, made the decision after meeting the officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board and got a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the MCL.
The left-handed batsman, who last played for the national team in 2013, joins a long list of Pakistani cricketers who have been forced by the PCB to announce their international retirements in order to get the lucrative contracts in the Masters League.
According to the PCB’s policy, the players, who sign contracts for the MCL, were told to first sign a letter to officially end their international careers with the decision being irrevocable.
Farhat played 40 Tests, 58 ODIs and seven T20Is for Pakistan. His last international outing was in June 2013.
The PCB, however, clarified that the players who go for the MCL can continue to play in domestic cricket.