Saba Karim calls it a day

Plagued by a persistent eye problem, former Indian stumper Syed Saba Karim on Friday announced his retirement from cricket.

Karim, who donned the gloves for India in one Test and 34 one day internationals, injured his eye against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in Dhaka last year when an Anil Kumble delivery struck him on the right eye off the batsman's boot.

Despite an eye surgery in Chennai and treatment abroad, his eyesight had not shown signs of recovery. "I have decided to retire not only from first class cricket, but also from club cricket. But I'll be available if my office Tata Steel wants my services for the Times shield," the 33-year-old Karim said.

The wicket-keeper batsman, who made his debut in the Ranji Trophy for Bihar in 1982-83 as a 15-year old, said "I have no option other than calling it a day as my doctor informed me last month that the retina of my right eye had suffered permanent damage".

Breaking into one-day cricket with a bang scoring 55 of 48 deliveries against the formidable South Africans in 1996, Karim has totalled 352 runs in 34 limited over matches for the country. He also took 27 catches and effected three stumpings. His only Test was against Bangladesh in November last year when he scored 15 and took one catch.

Karim described East Zone's double triumph in the Deodhar Trophy under his captaincy as the most memorable moment of his cricketing career. He played for Bengal and Bihar in the Ranji Trophy championship.