Rameez advises some national players to retire

Karachi:

Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has advised some of the national team players to say goodbye to international cricket themselves rather then being dropped after their dismal performance in Sri Lanka.

Without taking names, Rameez said some players must themselves set a good precedent and leave international cricket to allow younger players to fill in their boots.

"I think it is time for the selectors and team management to have a look at the available players and decide which players will be around and useful to the team in the next five to six years," he said.

With the 2011 World Cup also coming up, the former opener said the selectors need to start replacing players who had only one or two years of cricket left in them.

He said it was a good that Pakistan ended Sri Lanka tour with two big wins in the One- day series.

"The wins would definitely raise the morale of the team keeping in mind we have the Champions trophy next month in South Africa. But a lot of hard work is needed to ensure the team performs consistently from hereon," Rameez told Geo TV.

Rameez also lashed out at former players for claiming that some players had contacts with Indian bookies in Colombo.

"If anything, I think the players need to be given a pat on their backs and appreciated for immediately bringing to the notice of the team management invitations from strangers which is unusual and not allowed by the ICC," he said.