West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel who represented West Indies for over 12 years and 86 matches across all three formats has announced his retirement from International cricket. Gabriel, who played for the West Indies in all three formats, was primarily a Test match bowler and spent the majority of his career playing red-ball matches. He was known for hitting the deck hard and getting the seam movement off the surface.
"During the past 12 years, I have dedicated myself to playing international cricket for the West Indies. Playing this beloved game at the highest level has brought me immense joy, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I would like to express my gratitude to God for the numerous blessings and the opportunities my family and I have received during my time playing for the West Indies," Gabriel wrote on his Instagram page.
“Secondly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Cricket West Indies administrators, coaches, and staff members. Words cannot adequately convey the appreciation I have for your hard work and support over the years. Last but not least, I am grateful to my teammates and all those who have stood by me and supported me along the way. You have made my journey to the top truly special,” the note further added.
Gabriel to continue play for his club and franchise cricket
Gabriel took 202 wickets at the International level for the West Indies and 166 of them came in 59 Test matches, including a best of 8/62. As the new ball for the West Indies in whites, Gabriel and Kemar Roach worked well together. Gabriel confirmed that despite his retirement from international cricket, he would continue to play for Trinidad and Tobago and be available for franchise league contracts.
"Moving forward, my plan is to continue representing my country [Trinidad and Tobago], club, and franchise teams around the world with the same love and passion I have shown throughout my career," Gabriel concluded.
Gabriel experienced both the highs and lows while playing for West Indian. He was famously bowled by Yasir Shah when he tried to sweep with just seven balls left in the Dominica Test against Pakistan in 2017. In addition, Gabriel was also banned from four ODIs in 2019 for using a homophobic slur during an on-field spat with Joe Root in St. Lucia.
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