Yuvraj Returns: Dashing Southpaw to come out of retirement

One of the most entertaining international cricketers, Yuvraj Singh has been persuaded by the Punjab Cricket Association to come out of his retirement and play domestic T20 cricket again.

The 2011 World Cup champion member had bid adieu to all forms of cricket in June last year. However, he might again be seen playing for his native State Punjab in the domestic white ball competition.

The 38-year-old left-hander was approached by PCA secretary Puneet Bali. He agreed to play T20 domestic competition despite initial reluctance.

“Initially, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to take up the offer,” Yuvraj has told cricket news digital platform Cricbuzz. “I was done with domestic cricket, though I did want to continue to play in other domestic franchise-based leagues worldwide if I got permission from the BCCI.

“But I also couldn’t ignore Mr Bali’s request. I gave it a lot of thought, for nearly three or four weeks, and it was almost as if I didn’t even have to make a conscious decision in the end.

Yuvraj has been batting with young Punjab cricketers Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh and Anmolpreet Singh in order to stay in touch for international professional T20 leagues. He undoubtedly has been one of the most devastating batters in T20 cricket.

Bali also confirmed that Yuvraj has sought permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly.

“I know he (Yuvraj) has written a letter to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly wanting to come out of retirement,” Bali told national news agency PTI. “We want him in the team and the way he mentored four young boys Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Prabh Simran Singh and Anmolpreet Singh was exceptional. I told him that please give at least one more year of your life to Punjab cricket,” he said.

This is another twist to a career that has been punctuated with heroics on the cricket field that saw him win innumerable trophies, player of the tournaments awards, a battle with cancer and a comeback after enduring the ordeal when the world thought Yuvraj was done and dusted with.

Yuvraj, however, will not be able to play professional leagues after coming out of retirement. BCCI’s strict policy on international T20 leagues does not allow active Indian cricketers to play professional cricket anywhere other than the Indian Premier League.

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