The left-handed opening batsman Imran Farhat announced retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, thus joining the list of Pakistani cricketers who were forced to announce retirement in order to take part in the upcoming Masters Champions League (MCL).

The decision came after Farhat held a meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials to get a no-objection certificate to participate in the MCL — which kicks off on Thursday.

According to the PCB’s policy, the players who wished to participate in the MCL were required to sign a letter to officially end their international careers with the decision being irrevocable.

Farhat played 40 Tests, 58 ODIs and 7 T20Is for Pakistan before his last international outing came in June 2013.

However, the southpaw from Lahore has been a regular feature in the Pakistan domestic circuit.

The 33-year-old has played 181 first-class matches scoring 12,669 runs, but was left out in the drafts for the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) which is set to be held in February.

His latest domestic appearance was in a national one-day championship fixture for Habib Bank on January 22.

Farhat, who has signed with MCL franchise Sagittarius Strikers, joins former team-mates Abdul Razzaq, Saleem Elahi, Mohammad Yousuf, Saqlain Mushtaq, Rana Naved, Taufiq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Azhar Mehmood, Hasan Raza, Humayun Farhat and Mohammad Khalil in the league tournament.