New Delhi: Veteran Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who snared 10 wickets during Sachin Tendulkar's farewell Test in 2013, announced retirement from international and first-class cricket with immediate effect on Friday.
Tendulkar's final Test in Mumbai against the West Indies in November 2013 also became the last of the 33-year-old Ojha's career. He went out of favour after that but did not give any reasons for his decision to call it quits now.
In all, he played 24 Tests between 2009 and 2013 in which he took 113 wickets. Ojha, however, did not offer any reason for his retirement.
"I am writing this letter to tender my formal retirement from international and first-class cricket with immediate effect," Ojha posted on his Twitter account.
"To be an Indian cricketer and represent the country at the highest level was always a dream I cherished as a youngster.
"I fall short of words to describe how fortunate I have been to have lived my dream and earned the love and respect of my fellow countrymen," he added.
From 18 ODIs, he grabbed 21 wickets. He also played six T20 Internationals. He said the most memorable moment of his career was receiving his Test cap from Tendulkar.
"(It was like) ... accomplishing the feat of taking 100 Test wickets. I hope to continue contributing towards the growth of Indian cricket in every capacity possible," he said.
In the early stage of his career, Ojha had a fruitful spin partnership with R Ashwin in Tests, taking 20 wickets in the 2011 home Tests against West Indies and 13 the following year against New Zealand.
"My eventful career has witnessed many ups and downs, Over time, I have realised that the legacy of a sportsperson is not just the outcome of his hard work and dedication, but also the faith and guidance bestowed upon by the association (team management), teammates, coaches, trainers and the fans," he said.
"I am indebted to the BCCI for giving me this extraordinary opportunity and putting their belief in me.
"It has been an absolute honour to be associated with the Board, an association that has shaped my professional life and also enriched my personal development."
Ojha, who competed for erstwhile Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the IPL, was once reported for a suspect action in 2014. He underwent corrective rehabilitation and was cleared in 2015 but was never a very effective bowler after that, leading to his axing from the national team.
"My journey with the Indian Premier League has also been a memorable one and the purple cap win will always be an indelible memory - a special mention of the teams Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians for making me a part of their legacy.
"I am thankful to VVS Laxman for mentoring me like an elder brother, Venkatapathy Raju for being the role model I always looked to emulate, Harbhajan Singh for being a constant adviser and MS Dhoni for providing me with the honourable opportunity to wear the Indian cap.
He also thanked his contemporaries Rohit Sharma and Manoj Tiwary "who have shared many eventful moments with me and my Hyderabad teammate Amol Shinde".
Ojha played first class and List A matches till 2018.
Ojha's first-class career spanned more than 13 years between 2005 and 2018 during which he played for Hyderabad and also captained Bihar in the Ranji Trophy.
"I have been a part of the Hyderabad Cricket Association for close to 14 years, and the incredible experience I have gained will have an ever lasting impact.
"I am thankful to Cricket Association of Bengal and Sourav Ganguly for extending their unwavering support during a rough patch of my career. I also appreciate the Bihar Cricket Association for allowing me to lead their team for the short duration that I spent with them.
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Lucknow: In a sequence of events shrouded in suspicion and allegations, the recent hospitalization and subsequent demise of convicted former legislator Mukhtar Ansari have sparked controversy and demands for a thorough investigation. Ansari, who was lodged in Banda jail in Uttar Pradesh, complained of abdominal pain and was hospitalized before his death, allegedly due to a cardiac arrest. However, his son, Umar Ansari, has raised serious concerns about foul play, citing instances of alleged poisoning and lapses in medical treatment.
A week prior to his hospitalization, Ansari had filed an application in a court in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, alleging that his meals had been poisoned on at least two occasions within 40 days. He claimed that the food provided to him in jail had been mixed with a poisonous substance, leading to severe illness. Additionally, Ansari stated that some jail staff, including those responsible for food tasting, also fell ill after consuming the same food. Subsequently, he sought a probe into the matter and requested adequate medical attention and security.
Ansari said after eating the food, he felt uneasy and felt pain in his limbs first and then in the rest of his body.
“My hands and feet turned cold. And it felt like I was about to die. I felt uneasiness. Before that, my health was completely fine,” said Ansari in his application.
He had further alleged that around 40 days before that, he was given a “slow poison” with his meal. Some jail members, including one who would taste his food before it was fed to him, also felt unwell and they all had to be treated, Ansari had alleged in his two-page application.
“The threat to my life in the jail has increased. Any untoward incident can happen to me at any time,” Ansari had said, alleging that his poisoning was part of “some big conspiracy”.
Upon receiving Ansari's application, special judge Kamal Kant Srivastava directed the Jail Superintendent in Banda to submit a report on Ansari's health and security by March 29. The court emphasized the need for proper medical examination and facilities for Ansari as per the jail manual. Furthermore, the court instructed the jail official to take necessary measures to ensure Ansari's safety.
On March 26, Ansari was admitted to the hospital after complaining of abdominal pain. His health deteriorated suddenly, leading to his transfer to Rani Durgavati Medical College. Despite initial treatment, Ansari succumbed to a cardiac arrest. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised suspicions, especially considering his earlier allegations of poisoning and concerns about his safety in jail.
Ansari’s son Umar Ansari had last year filed a petition in the Supreme Court saying that the state government was planning to assassinate Ansari in Banda jail, where he was lodged as a convict and accused in several criminal cases.
Umar Ansari had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court last December praying that his father be moved to a jail outside UP. On December 15, 2023, the Adityanath government assured the apex court that “necessary augmentation of security as needed will be made” to ensure that no harm was caused to Ansari while in custody. In his petition, Umar had expressed concern for his father’s well-being by drawing attention to the murder of former Lok Sabha MP and tainted politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad while they were being escorted by a team of policemen for a routine medical check-up in Prayagraj on April 15 last year. The Ahmad brothers were killed in front of reporters and the footage was relayed live on television.
Ansari's family, including his son Umar Ansari, has reiterated their allegations of foul play and demanded a thorough investigation into his death. Umar Ansari, in particular, highlighted the lack of access to his father during his hospitalization and expressed concerns about the handling of the case by authorities. Moreover, the past assurances by the Adityanath government regarding Ansari's security have come under scrutiny in light of recent events.
“I am nobody to make an allegation. The who was poisoned (Mukhtar) had himself alleged that he was given poison along with his dinner on March 19.” Umar said.
Various political leaders and organizations, including Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar Azad and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, have called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Ansari's death. They have criticized the state government for allegedly neglecting Ansari's health concerns and failing to address the serious allegations of poisoning.