Faiz Fazal, Vidarbha’s most successful captain, hangs up his boots after 2 decades

Nagpur: The face of Vidarbha cricket for over a decade. The opener who blunted rival new-ball attacks for as long as one can remember. The elegant left-hander who scripted victories and saved matches with his bat more often than not. The skipper who took his team to the top of the domestic circuit twice, will walk out on to the field at a match for the last time on Monday.Faiz Fazal, Vidarbha’s most successful captain, on Sunday announced his retirement from domestic cricket. Monday, Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy match against Haryana at the VCA Civil Lines Stadium, will mark the end of an illustrious career spanning over two decades.“Faiz bhai informed us about the decision during the team huddle on Day 1 of the Haryana match. It took us all by surprise. It was an honour to play with him,” Faiz’s Vidarbha colleague told TOI.The Fazal household, though, was discussing and debating the retirement issue for a long time. “It was being discussed since the end of last domestic season. His father, Yakub, who shaped Faiz’s career, wasn’t happy with the decision. He is more passionate about Faiz than the cricketer himself,” a family member said.On Sunday, the two teams — Vidarbha and Haryana — lined up a guard of honour as Faiz Fazal walked out to bat one last time for Vidarbha at the VCA Civil Lines Stadium.It was akin to life coming full circle for the 38-year-old Faiz. It was December 17, 2003, when a lean 18-year-old Faiz made 151 on his Ranji Trophy debut at the same ground. After a brief move to the Railways, Faiz came back to the Vidarbha fold. A lone One-Day International appearance, and IPL stint with Rajasthan Royals followed, along with piles of runs in the domestic circuit season after season.
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