Netherlands bowler Bukhari retires from four-dayers, ODIs

Netherlands medium-pacer Mudassar Bukhari announced his retirement from four-day cricket and 50-over cricket on Tuesday. Bukhari, 32, said, however, that he will remain available for Netherlands in T20 cricket.

Bukhari is the leading wicket-taker for Netherlands in ODIs, having taken 57 wickets in 46 matches from 2007 to 2014. A steady performer, he took three wickets on eight different occasions in the format, though never more than that in a match.

Netherlands lost ODI status after being knocked out in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup Qualifier, but Bukhari's best performances in 50-over cricket came more recently in List A matches for Netherlands. The bowler took a List-A best of 6 for 24 against UAE during a WCL Championship win in January.

Overall Bukhari took 148 wickets in 116 List A games for Netherlands. He also played 12 Intercontinental Cup matches for Netherlands, claiming 34 wickets with a best of 6 for 43 against Afghanistan in 2012.

Increased competition for pace-bowling spots, with the emergence of Paul van Meekeren and Vivian Kingma, as well as the return of Ahsan Malik after his bowling action was cleared by the ICC meant Bukhari was dropped for Netherlands' most recent WCL Championship match against Nepal, a 19-run loss. He finished with 0 for 33 in 11 overs opening the bowling during his final Intercontinental Cup appearance for Netherlands against Afghanistan in July.

Bukhari remains committed to T20Is for Netherlands and is currently tied with Malik as the side's highest wicket-taker in T20Is. Bukhari has 43 wickets in 38 games, and his best bowling performances in the format came in the past year with 4 for 7 against UAE in February and 4 for 28 against Ireland in Malahide in the semi-final of last year's World T20 Qualifier. Bukhari also played a starring role in Netherlands' win over England at the 2014 World T20, where he was named Man of the Match after taking 3 for 12.