Former England captain Paul Collingwood announces retirement
London, Sep 13 : Former England skipper Paul Collingwood is set to retire at the end of the ongoing domestic season, ending a career spanning more than two decades.
Collingwood, who led England to the World T20 title in 2010 -- their first major win in a global tournament -- played in 68 Tests, 197 one-day internationals and 36 Twenty20s.
"After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to announce my retirement from cricket at the end of the current season," the 42-year-old all-rounder said in a statement.
"I knew this day would eventually come but it hasn't made it any easier - although it's an emotional decision, I know that the time is right and I'm comfortable knowing that I have given every last ounce of energy to the sport.
"I have achieved so much with both Durham and England; far more than I ever imagined and I feel extremely privileged to have had such a long and rewarding career," added Collingwood, who was part of three Ashes-winning teams and was one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year in 2007.
Collingwood made his first-class debut in 1996, also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals, and played and coached in the Australian Big Bash with Perth Scorchers.
Collingwood, who had retired from Test cricket in 2011, will play his final game for Durham at home against Middlesex, starting on September 24.
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HC dismisses Abu Salem’s plea seeking immediate release after completing '25 years' in jail
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed gangster Abu Salem’s plea for immediate release, claiming he had served 25 years in jail in India mandated under the terms of his extradition from Portugal.
In his plea, Salem had contended that if remission for good behaviour is included, then his 25-year jail term is complete and hence he ought to be freed.
A bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata said it cannot hold that the 25-year jail term is complete, as it would be premature to say anything at this stage on the point of remission.
The court relied on a Supreme Court judgment wherein it was held that remission of a prisoner would need to be calculated a month before the applicant’s release.
“Therefore, the present petition (filed by Salem) is dismissed,” the court said.
A copy of the detailed order is yet to be made available.
Salem’s plea, filed through advocate Farhana Shah, had said that when he was extradited from Portugal in 2005, India had assured that he would not be handed over the death penalty in any case and that he would not be imprisoned for more than 25 years.
The government had opposed his plea, noting that Salem has spent only 19 years in jail and that a decision on his premature release was pending.
Salem was convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case and sentenced to life imprisonment.
