Scotland's veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dougie Lockhart has announced his retirement from international cricket.

"This is the right time for me to finish my international career," he said. "Representing Scotland requires 100% commitment, discipline and dedication and I have always prided myself on the high standards I have set.

"After 16 years of international cricket and nine years of combining international cricket with a full time job, I feel that I can no longer commit the required time and make the necessary sacrifices to play and compete at international level. There are no major tournaments over the next couple of years, so it is an appropriate time to step aside and allow younger players the opportunities to progress."

An Oxford Blue at cricket, Lockhart made his representative debut for Scotland in 1995, at the age of 19, against the MCC at Mannofield, Aberdeen. As a batsman, in 178 appearances he scored more than 3,500 runs for his country, including two centuries and 14 half-centuries - his highest score being a first-class innings of 151 against Canada in the Intercontinental Cup in 2008. As a wicketkeeper at international level, he also took 115 catches and 11 stumpings.

Lockhart, who started his cricket career at Glasgow Academicals, also captained Scotland on seven occasions, including leading the team to a clean sweep in the 1999 Triple Crown and captaining the side against the MCC at Lord's in 2002.

"The Scotland team over the 2004-05 period was the strongest I was involved in," he said. "We had a talented group of players who had played a lot of cricket together and everyone peaked at the right time for the ICC Trophy in Ireland.

"I feel extremely proud and privileged to have played for Scotland over a period of significant development for the game in this country. I have enjoyed every minute of it and it was fantastic to have the opportunity to play in One-Day Internationals, first-class matches, ICC tournaments and English county matches for Scotland.

"I will miss the dressing room atmosphere and the adrenaline from big games, but I know in my heart that the time is right. I look forward to moving on to the next phase of my life in my career with Barclays Wealth, and spending more time with my wife Joanne."

Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith said: "Dougie has been a tremendous servant of Scottish cricket throughout his international career and has had constantly to juggle his professional career with his Scotland commitments. I'm sure everyone will want to thank him for and to congratulate him on such a distinguished record."