New Delhi : Former India pacer Rudra Pratap Singh on Tuesday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 32-year-old bowler posted a heartfelt message on his official Twitter account. "13 years ago, on 4th September 2005 was the first time I donned the Indian jersey. It was the stepping stone to what would become the most cherished moments of my life. Today as I hang my boots and call it a day, I wish to remember and give thanks to each and everyone who made this journey possible. Even as I write this, there are conflicting emotions inside me. No matter how much one prepares for the day, there is no easy way to bid goodbye. But somewhere inside there is the voice that tells you - it's time", he posted.

"And that for me is today. My heart and soul will always belong to that young boy who debuted at Faisalabad, Pakistan, who wanted nothing more but to feel the leather in his hand and keep playing but my body reminds me I am an old man who needs to make way for the young", he added.

Left-arm pacer Singh, who made his international debut against Zimbabwe in 2005, played 14 Tests for India where he took a total of 40 wickets with best figures of 5/59 against England in 2007.

Singh represented India in 58 ODIs clinching 69 wickets at an average of just under 34. In the shortest format of the game, Singh played a total of 10 games, registering best figures of four wickets for 13 runs.

The highlights of RP Singh's career was his five-wicket haul against England during the 2007 Lord's Test  where he played a prominent role in the second innings registering career figures od 5/59. India later, went on to win that series in England after a gap of 21 years.

Singh was also a part of the Indian side that won the inaugural edition of the ICC World T20 in 2007, where he took 12 wickets in seven matches, finishing as his side's highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

courtesy : ndtv.com

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Noida (PTI): The family of a 21-year-old university student, who drowned at an abandoned construction site in Noida, Thursday alleged foul play saying there were marks on his body even as the police confirmed drowning as the cause of death.

According to a police statement, sand and water were found in the lungs of the deceased, identified as Harshit Bhatt, while his viscera has been preserved for further examination.

Bhatt, a final-year Bachelor of Physical Education student of the private university and a resident of Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, had drowned on Wednesday in a water-filled area at the abandoned construction site in Sector 94, under Sector 126 police station limits.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Saad Miyan Khan said the student had gone to the site along with four friends to celebrate the end of their examinations.

"During the outing, Bhatt entered a nearby water-filled pit to bathe and suddenly drowned," the officer said, adding that the incident was reported to Dial-112 by one of his companions.

Police and PRV personnel rushed to the spot and, with the help of local divers, retrieved him from the water and rushed him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Khan said other students who had entered the water in an attempt to rescue him were safely pulled out and are stable.

Meanwhile, Bhatt's mother has alleged that there were black marks on his body, raising suspicion over the incident.

Police, however, said no formal complaint has been received from the family so far and action will be taken if any complaint is lodged.

An eyewitness, who assisted in the rescue, said he and others rushed to the spot after hearing cries for help and managed to pull out two students.

"They told us it was their last exam and they had come for a party. One of them went deeper into the water while bathing," the eyewitness said.