When is the right time to go?

What is the perfect time to bid farewell to the game for a legendary cricketer? Unfortunately, unlike baseball caps, this decision is not accompanied by a one 'time' fits all option. Every great cricketer seeks to leave 'on his own terms', and hopes that the retirement will come at a time where they are automatic selections in the playing eleven as opposed to when murmurs start going around on them being carried as baggage with the only thing defending their inclusion being 'invaluable experience'. Rarely do legends of the game get their timing of retirement perfect, like Imran Khan saying goodbye after Pakistan's historic 1992 World Cup victory.

Let's take a look at the more recent retirement announcements of the greats of the game. MS Dhoni is without doubt one of the greatest leaders in the modern era. A calm, composed captain and a prolific middle-order batsman, Dhoni took India's cricket to new heights in all forms of the game. An automatic selection in the shorter format of the game for just his incredible ability to pace an innings and explode at just the right time - when you add on his wicketkeeping skills and 'captain cool' leadership style, there are no doubts regarding the validity of his inclusion in the squad. However, significant criticism has been doing the rounds for his lack of aggression and out-of-the-box thinking in the Test format. Is leaving in the middle of the Australia series indication that the voices of criticism where just getting too loud - and it was time to move on as opposed to being formally sacked before the squad for the next assignment was announced?

There are existing players in the game as well who have clung on to their desire to lead teams or be part of the playing squads on the grounds of being a significant source of experience. Alastair Cook's painful tenure as ODI captain had to be cut short via an ungraceful sacking just months before the World Cup - should he have let go much earlier?

As a huge Pakistani cricket fan, it is hard for me to look past the persistent desire of the PCB to continue with Misbah-ul-Haq as the right man to lead the ODI squad. It seems strange how Misbah's turnaround in Test cricket form and significant Test series victory against Australia are deemed adequate reasons for his retention as ODI captain. The recent record of the Pakistan team in ODIs has been poor to say the least, and Misbah has certainly not been a shining light in the middle order. His brand of cricket would suit the right formula adopted a couple of decades ago, however it doesn't seem to work in the current brand of ODIs where teams rack up 300-plus scores with ease. Surely the go-slow approach with a major explosion at the end would fail on most counts, as it has in the past. However Pakistan cricket and Misbah don't seem to move on. As an ardent cricket fan, I can only hope that I get that I am proved wrong in the months to come.

Graceful exists to the game are rare for Pakistani cricketers (possibly non-existent barring Imran Khan) with legends such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq all being let go, rather than leave at their own terms. Younis Khan still clings on to his desire to play ODI cricket, the argument being backed by his Test achievements. Shahid Afridi seems to retire and come back as a captain in all formats of the game almost before you have had a chance to digest his previous announcement.

It is always rare to find the ideal time to let go, as the definition of perfect/ideal also varies from the perspective of each fan and critic. However, some of the greats of the game might need to consider taking a step back and considering the point in their career where 'experience' rather than current ability and form are their only reason for selection in the squad. Unfortunately 'experience' only does not add runs on the scoreboard or wickets to your tally at the end of a spell.