VETERAN pace bowler Shingi Masakadza has called time on his professional cricket career.
He bowed out in style, guiding Mountaineers to a 358-run victory over Eagles in the Logan Cup at Mutare Sports Club.
In his final game, Masakadza (38) scored a half-century (53 off 50 balls) and took one wicket for 40 runs in 20 overs.
Masakadza represented Zimbabwe in five Test matches, 16 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and seven T20 Internationals (T20Is).
He claimed 16, 25 and four wickets respectively in the three formats.
“I feel it’s time to step away from first-class cricket. As I do so, I’d love to think that I’ve given everything I could,” Masakadza told NewsDay Sport.
“It’s obviously been a great honour to represent my country in all three formats and for my brother Hamilton to have been part of that whole journey is just unreal.”
Masakadza’s first class journey began in the 2007/08 season, where he took 14 wickets in four Logan Cup matches.
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He continued to impress, taking 24 wickets the following season and 40 in the 2009/10 season.
One of his fond memories was being part of the Zimbabwe team that beat West Indies by two runs, where he claimed three wickets on his ODI debut at Port of Spain.
His Test debut came in January 2012 against New Zealand at Napier.
Masakadza’s only regret was not having the opportunity to play an international match with his two brothers, Hamilton and Wellington.
“And for all three of us to have been part of the same touring squad stands out as one of the proudest moments in my career though I would have loved for all 3 of us to play in the same international game,” he added.
“But it still has been an incredible journey all the same having those two with me on the playing field for Mountaineers.”
As he contemplates his next move, coaching seems a natural fit, having already gained experience as a player-coach at Mountaineers.
“My exit to the game is also something I will remember for a long time. When I broke the news to my Mountaineers teammates, I did ask them to give me a good send-off with a trophy and I am extremely happy to have finished on a high in that regard and to also score a 50 in my last game was remarkable as well. I just hope the boys continue to bring in the trophies,” Masakadza said.
“I will probably go into coaching after this as I have been already involved in coaching. I have been player/coach for Mountaineers for a while now and I do believe I have gained a bit of experience and hopefully take that up going forward.”
Masakadza’s impressive career statistics include an economy rate of 2.92 in Tests, averaging 32.18.
