Cricketer announces retirement at the age of 19

Mumbai: For majority of the sportspersons, latter half of teenage years is only the starting point for one’s career to take off. But here comes a cricketer who has announced his retirement from the game at the age of 19.

Watch: When 18-year-old Virat Kohli, with a bat in hand, treaded Delhi roads

Barney Gibson, who made his first-class debut when he was 15 years and 27 days old in 2011 and became the youngest cricketer to play a county game, opted to walk away from the game.

The wicketkeeper batsman who played for The Yorkshire County Cricket Club announced about Gibson’s retirement, the same English county that signed Cheteshwar Pujara.

Gibson decided to quit the game to follow other career prospects.

In a press release issued by the club, Barney Gibson said, “This was a difficult decision to make.”

“I would like to thank the players and staff at Yorkshire for their support. I have been involved with the Club since I was 11 and I feel that now is the right time for me to look at a career change,” he added.

“The support from my parents has been tremendous and I would like to thank Ralph Middlebrook at Pudsey Congs Cricket Club and England coach Paul Farbrace, who I had close working relationships with,” Gibson concluded.

Ian Dews, Yorkshire’s director of cricket development, said that everyone at the club wishes Barney well.

'It is very much his decision. We hope that the next chapter in his life is very successful,'’ concluded Dews.