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Duffin retires from cricket

Sport
FORMER Zimbabwe cricket team skipper Terrence Duffin has retired from all forms of cricket at the age of 30 due to work commitments.

FORMER Zimbabwe cricket team skipper Terrence Duffin has retired from all forms of cricket at the age of 30 due to work commitments.

REPORT BY DANIEL NHAKANISO

The stocky left-hand opening batsman played his last match in the domestic league for Matabeleland Tuskers in their Logan Cup match against Mountaineers which ended at Mutare Sports Club yesterday. Tuskers’ chief executive Stanley Staddon confirmed Duffin’s surprise retirement yesterday.

“Yes, it’s true Terry Duffin has retired from all forms of cricket due to work commitments. I actually have his resignation letter with me right now and the Logan Cup match currently underway in Mutare will be his last.

“I understand he and his wife will be moving to Hwange and he has indicated that he will no longer be able to continue playing,” Staddon said.

Duffin played two Tests and 23 one-day internationals, scoring 80 and 546 runs respectively. He was also a consistent performer in domestic first-class cricket scoring 3 732 in 73 matches with a career best score of 193.

The highlight of his short-lived Test career came against India in 2005 when he scored 56 in the first innings at Queens Sports Club, making him the fifth Zimbabwean to score a half-century on Test debut.

He last featured for Zimbabwe against Ireland in a pool match at the 2007 World Cup in Kingston, Jamaica.

Duffin looked set for a comeback to the national side when he was called up to the national team’s squad for the 2011 Cricket World Cup two years ago as a last minute replacement to Tino Mawoyo.

He, however, didn’t feature in a single match during the campaign.

The Kwekwe-born player, who briefly captained the Zimbabwe side in 2005, has recently been one of the most consistent players in the domestic league, helping Tuskers win the last two editions of the country’s premier domestic competition, the Logan Cup.

Staddon said Duffin’s resignation was a huge blow not only to his franchise, but for the whole Zimbabwe Cricket family.

“Duffin was a model professional who was dedicated to the sport and it’s sad that we are losing him. I think the fact that he was once appointed the national team captain showed his leadership qualities. His loyalty to Tuskers was never in doubt as he started playing for the province even before the franchise system up until now.”

The Tuskers boss said he was still confident that Duffin would make a comeback to local cricket weather as a player or in a different capacity.

“I don’t think he is leaving cricket for good. I’m confident that he will still be involved in the sport, maybe still as a player or in a different capacity in the near future,” Staddon added.