HARARE, March 31: Peeved over the national selectors’ decision to ignore him for this week’s Sharjah four-nation tournament, former Zimbabwe captain Alistair campbell has announced his retirement from international cricket.

Campbell, overlooked for the recent World Cup but later brought back in the side to replace injured Mark Vermeulen for Super Six match against Kenya, was fourth Zimbabwe player to retire since the mega event in South Africa. The other three were Andy Flower, Henry Olonga and Guy Whittall.

“I made the decision to retire as selectors gave me impression that I was also surplus to requirements for England tour (in May),” he was quoted as saying by BBC Sport website.

“I always thought that a batsman’s best years are between 28 and 36. At 30 I was looking forward to best years of my international career. But selectors forced my hand and that was obviously not ideal for me.”

Campbell, who made his international debut at age of 19 in 1992 World Cup, scored 2,858 runs from 60 Test matches at 27.21 with two centuries. In one-dayers, he made 5,185 runs in 188 games with seven hundreds at 30.50.—PPI