10 cricketers who will be playing their last ODI World Cup in 2015

The 2011 edition of the World Cup, held in the Indian subcontinent, proved to be the last for many great players including the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Muttiah Muralitharan. Here is a look at 10 international cricketers who are most likely to retire from ODIs following the 2015 World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand starting February 14.

#10 Tillakaratne Dilshan

Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan has become one of the nation’s key players ever since he started opening the innings. The 38-year-old right-hander has played exactly 300 ODIs for his country, scoring 9004 runs at an average of 38.31 with a best of 160 not out.

Dilshan has scored 717 runs in 20 World Cup encounters with a highest score of 144, but despite the numbers, he has been on the losing side in the finals of both the 2007 and the 2011 editions of the mega event.

This has to be his last appearance in a 50-over World Cup, and he would hope to finish off on a high by helping his side lift the crown on March 29 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

#9 Michael Clarke

Australian captain Michael Clarke has played 238 ODI games for his country since making his debut in the format in 2003. He has amassed 7762 runs at an average of 44.86 with 8 centuries to his name. Clarke is probably one of the few lucky ones to have won the World Cup as a player in his maiden appearance, in 2007; he was also a part of the Australian side that was defeated by India in the quarter-finals in 2011.

The 33-year-old has an exceptional record in the mega event, having scored 669 runs in 18 matches at an incredible average of 83.62. However, ever since the previous edition in 2011, Clarke has had to deal with chronic back problems that have led to him skipping ODI tournaments rather frequently. He has only played 43 ODIs in the last 4 years.

He will, however, be leading Australia in the World Cup. It should be his last one as well, given his fitness issues.

#8 Younis Khan

Younis Khan, despite playing only 25 matches in the last 3 years and averaging close to 23 in them, has managed to board the flight to Australia, thanks to his exploits in Test cricket – where he averages close to 60 in 17 matches in 2013 and 2014 with 8 hundreds to his name.

That Pakistan don’t have a reliable batsman to counter the conditions also played into the 37-year-old’s hands. The right-hander has played 259 ODIs for the Men in Green in a 14-year long career, scoring 7177 runs at an average of 31.75.

Younis made his World Cup debut for his country in the 2003 edition and played in the subsequent editions as well, but hasn’t been able to make a mark in the competition, amassing just 306 runs in 16 games at an average of 23.53.

If Pakistan are to do well in the competition, then he along with Misbah-ul-Haq will have to play a crucial role in the middle-order with the willow in hand.

#7 Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga will go down in the history books as a bowler who amazed one and all across the globe with his slingy action and lethal yorkers. The right-arm fast bowler has represented his country in 177 ODIs since making his debut in 2004 and has picked up 271 wickets at an average of 27.21.

Malinga last played an ODI for his country in August 2014. Hence, he would be certainly raring to go in the mega event, which could well be the last World Cup of his career.

The 31-year-old has a remarkable record in World Cup cricket, having picked up 31 scalps in 15 matches at an average of 17.87 with a best of 6 for 38. He led Sri Lanka to the 20-over World Cup triumph in Bangladesh last year, and although the captaincy in Australia will be in the hands of Angelo Mathews, he will once again have to play a critical role with the ball if the Lankans have to lift the title.

#6 Chris Gayle

One of the most destructive cricketers to have played the game, Chris Gayle has represented the West Indies in 258 ODIs, scoring 8810 runs at an average of 37.33 and a strike-rate of 84.04. The 35-year-old left-hander has, however, been troubled by back problems in recent times and will be hoping to stay fit during the course of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Despite being a savage cricketer at the top, Gayle’s record in World Cup cricket is at best decent, having scored 604 runs in 20 matches since making his debut in the 2003 edition. He has scored just a solitary hundred in the mega event and will look to add on to that tally in the upcoming campaign Down Under.

The West Indies’s last major 50-over triumph was the 2004 Champions Trophy in England, and the Jamaican left-hander will certainly look to end that long wait by playing an important role in his side’s quest to win the tournament.

Gayle has only played 38 ODIs in the last 4 years and with his powers on the wane, it is quite obvious that he wouldn’t be around for the next version.

#5 Misbah-ul-Haq

With question marks over his place already, the 2015 World Cup will, in all likelihood, be Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq's last 50-over tournament. The 40-year-old has played 153 ODIs for Pakistan so far and has scored 4669 runs at an average of 42.83. Misbah is yet to hit a century in 50-over cricket, and he would be desperate to set the record straight in the biggest stage of them all.

Known for his ability to occupy the crease and take the game down to the wire, he has been a part of just one World Cup campaign for Pakistan – the 2011 edition held in the sub-continent where he amassed 248 runs in 8 matches with three half-centuries at an average of 49.60.

Along with Ahmed Shehzad and Younis Khan, Misbah will have to play a key role if the Men in Green are to win their first World Cup in 23 years.

#4 Kumar Sangakkara

The Sri Lankan southpaw has already announced that it will not only be his last World Cup but also his last competitive tournament for his country in coloured clothing. The 37-year-old left-hander has played 390 ODIs in a career spanning close to 15 years and has amassed 13372 runs at an average of 40.64.

Sangakkara has an equally good record in the mega event, having scored 991 runs in 30 games at an average of 45.04 since making his World Cup debut in 2003. But despite being a consistent performer in the event, he hasn’t been able to get his team over the line on two consecutive occasions – failing in the finals of 2007 and 2011.

He will be looking to sign off from ODIs on a high, like he did from T20Is in the World Cup T20 2014.

#3 Daniel Vettori

Daniel Vettori made his ODI debut in 1997, and though initially wasn’t considered a threat among oppositions, he soon developed into a left-arm spinner of immense pedigree. The 35-year-old has represented his country in 280 games, picking up 289 wickets with best figures of 5 for 7.

The upcoming World Cup will be his fourth and, in all probability, his last one for his country, and he will be looking to provide his side with the tight spells that he is known for. He has got a decent record at the mega event, having taken 21 wickets in 23 World Cup games with a best of 4 for 23 that came against Ireland in the 2007 edition of the tournament.

Although he is a capable batsman, he will be hoping that he won’t be required much with the willow in the lower-order and would look to finish his World Cup career on a high by helping his side go all the way.

Plagued by back injuries, Vettori has only played 17 ODIs in the last 4 years.

#2 Shahid Afridi

The World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will also give the cricketing fraternity one final opportunity to witness Shahid Afridi in ODIs for Pakistan. The 34-year-old has been an enigmatic cricketer for his country, both with bat and ball in hand, ever since making his debut in 1996.

The all-rounder has played 389 ODIs for the Men in Green, scoring 7870 runs at an average of 23.49. With the ball, he has picked up 391 wickets with a best of 7 for 12 against the West Indies.

He doesn't have the best of records with the bat in World Cup cricket, having scored just 209 runs in 4 World Cups at an average of 11.61.

He has, however, been comparatively better with the ball in hand picking up 28 scalps in 20 games at an average of 19.60.

He led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the 2011 edition and will surely be looking to not only improve his performance in the upcoming World Cup but also bring his all-round skills to the fore and help his country win the trophy after a gap of 23 years.

#1 Mahela Jayawardene

The 2015 edition will not be only Mahela Jayawardene's last World Cup but also his last international commitment. The right-hander has a been a pillar of strength for Sri Lankan cricket in the last 15 years and has represented his country in 434 ODIs and has amassed 12447 runs with 17 centuries.

The 2015 edition of the World Cup will be the fifth of his career having made his debut in the 1999 edition. He has so far scored 975 runs in 33 World Cup matches at an average of 37.50. Although he didn't have the greatest of tournaments in 1999 and 2003, he came back with a terrific 2007 campaign in the Caribbean Islands, leading his side to the final where they lost to Australia.

He was once again on the losing side in 2011, this time to India, despite scoring a majestic hundred in front of a packed Wankhede Stadium crowd at Mumbai. He will be hoping to get third time lucky in 2015 and give himself and all his fans one last hurrah.