Cricket:Australia spin legend and Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne has announced he will retire from all cricket at the end of the current Indian Premier League campaign.
With Rajasthan currently fourth in the points table and bidding to qualify for the knock-out stages, Warne said his career as a professional cricketer will come to an end after this edition of the lucrative Twenty20 league.
Warne, who made the announcement via his twitter page, led his IPL franchise to the title in the first tournament a year after his international retirement in 2007.
Warne said: “This is my last year playing IPL. To my team-mates can I say thanks for your support — you guys have made it fun and enjoyable to play.
“I will miss the IPL but it’s been fun for the last four seasons. It’s 100 per cent my last four games of professional cricket, unless we make the finals — maybe I have five or six left.
“I want RR to go out on a high. We must win at least two if not three of our last four.”
On his future with the franchise, Warne added: “Re. next year, who knows what or if I will be involved in IPL re. mentor/coaching — I am focused on doing my best for RR this year.”