10 cricketers who took up other professions after retirement due to money issues

Ganesh Birle, a social media user, recently described his strange encounter with former Pakistani bowlerArshad Khan. Khan, who had represented Pakistan in 9 Tests and 58 ODIs between 1997 and 2006, now drives Uber cabs in Sydney for a living.Birle wrote: He was the driver of our cab and we started chatting, he told me that he is from Pakistan and lives in Sydney. Also that he has been to Hyderabad many times when he was playing for Lahore Badshahs something in ICL. After which I asked him his full name and then I was shocked to see his face which I could partially recognise. I shook his hand and left.But strange as it may seem, Arshad Khan is not the only such example. Our cricketing annals are filled with the tales of extraordinary cricketers who passed into a life of poverty once the limelight ceased to shineon them.The number of cricketers who later became influential politicians, actors or singers is truly endless.But this is not a listof super-rich cricketers who took up other sports or professions merely as a passion. There have been lesser known legends of the game who lived a difficult life away from the public eye after cricket.These are the men who gave their all for cricket but got nothing in return from the game.These are the stories of extraordinary men whom cricket did not remember.

#10 Brett Schultz

Brett Schultz claims the wicket of Dave Houghton in the historic South Africa-Zimbabwe 1995 Test

In international cricketing circles, Brett Schultz is not a well-remembered name. Very few remember his monstrous pace and his formidable bowling partnership with Allan Donald. His 20 wickets helped South Africa earn their maiden Test series win against Sri Lanka in 1992.

Continuous injuries, however, were a deterrent to what appeared to be a promising cricketing career. He retired early to pursue a career in finance, and is currently a business partner in the South African firm Econorisk.

#9 Salil Ankola

Salil Ankola made his debut alongside Sachin Tendulkar but had more success in the film industry than on the cricket field

Remembered as the third cricketer who made his debut alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis in 1989, Salil Ankola did not go on to have an illustrious international career like the other two. Ankola represented India in one Test match and 20 ODIs between 1989 and 1997, but his international career was curtailed due to indifferent form and a series of injuries.

Ankola went on to act in popular soap operas like Kora Kagaz, CID.: Special Bureau, Ssshhh ...Koi hai and Vikraal aur Gabraal. He made his Hindi film debut in Kurukshetra opposite Sanjay Dutt and went on to act in other popular films like Pitaah and Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne.

#8 Bryan Strang

Bryan Strang claims Brian Lara’s wicket in 2001

A more-than-useful Zimbabwean fast bowler in the 90s, Bryan Strang had to spend plenty of time away from cricket due to the political turmoil in his country. His attempted comeback in 2003 failed, and Strang went through severe bouts of depression following the ignominious end to his career.

Those were the darkest days in his life as he became suicidal and considered throwing himself under a tube train in London. He then came to India and took to meditation seriously as it helped him gain much wanted solace in life.

Strang now travels around the world teaching people the values of yoga.

#7 Eddo Brandes

Eddo Brandes reacts on registering a hat trick in 1997

Zimbabwean fast bowler Eddo Brandes is often referred to as international cricket's most famous chicken farmer. At a time when most Zimbabwean cricketers were amateurs with other full-time professions, fans could be forgiven for thinking that ‘Chicken Farmer’ was a part of Brandes' name since the words appeared so often in brackets after his name.

Brandes played 10 Tests and 59 ODIs and took a hat-trick against England in January 1997. His famous exchange with the legendary Glenn Mcgrath is still well-remembered: unable to dismiss him, McGrath tried to sledge him by saying "Why are you so fat?", to which Brandes famously replied, "Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit."

The chicken farmer turned cricketer now runs a farm on the Sunshine Coast where he cultivates tomatoes for a living.

#6 Chris Harris

Chris Harris of New Zealand

Who does not remember Chris Harris, the lovable Kiwi all-rounder who produced those back-of-the-hand slower delivers with deadly consistency? He was a extraordinary servant of the game and the New Zealand team were tremendously dependent on him in the 90s.

But Harris has moved away from cricket following his retirement. If you happen to meet him now, don't be surprised to find him explaining to you the process of a back fusion. It is quite surreal to hear an internationally acclaimed retired cricketer talking about titanium cages, paedical screws and trauma nails.

But that's the harsh truth of life. The former New Zealand all-rounder now works as a sales representative for a distributor of orthopaedic devices, spending a fair bit of his time in surgery rooms.

#5 Chris Old

England's Mike Hendrick, Chris Old and David Gower in the West Indies dressing room after a Test match in 1979

Chris Old, the former Ashes hero who helped England bowl and bat their way to victory in 1981, is famously said to have earned less than £3,000 for his heroic feat. A post-retirement life full of poverty compelled him to look for other jobs to sustain himself.

The former English bowler, nicknamed 'Chilly' as his name appeared as 'C.Old' on the scoreboard, now runs a beachside fish and chips shop in Cornwall.

Old admits that he still gets thrilled when people recognise him: "Some [people] do recognise me – and it’s pleasing when they do because I’m still very proud of my cricket career. It’s generally older people because it’s over 30 years ago since I played in Test matches for England."

#4 Arthur Mailey

The 1921 Australian team, Arthur Mailey standing extreme right

At a time when Shane Warne had not yet spun a web around the cricketing world, a certain Arthur Mailey used his leg-break and googlies to good effect, picking up 36 wickets in the 1920-21 Ashes series. In his rather short-lived career spanning 21 Test matches, he picked up 99 wickets.

Mailey became a labourer in his post-retirement life though he continued working as a journalist, writing on cricket and drawing cartoons of contemporary cricketers. Once dubbed as 'the man who bowled like a millionaire', he went on to set up a butcher's shop in the suburbs of Sydney.

A placard in the window of his shop read: "Mailey: used to bowl tripe; used to write tripe; now he sells tripe."

#3 Dick Motz

Dick Motz takes his 100th Test wicket in 1969

Dick Motz was the first New Zealander to take 100 Test wickets, and he has the enviable record of having dismissed Geoffrey Boycott on six occasions. He was also the first Test bowler to have been banned from bowling for running on the pitch.

Motz had an unhappy post-retirement life where he worked at odds and ends to earn a livelihood. He had a spell driving taxis in Christchurch, during which the Pakistani journalist Qamar Ahmed recognised him while he was on the way to a Test match. "I got a good account of the match, and how the wicket would play, before it had even started!" Qamar wrote.

Motz spent his last few days in extreme poverty and died in penury.

#2 Ewen Chatfield

Martin Crowe (R), Matthew Bell and Ewen Chatfield during a charity match in 2011

With his career winding down, Sunil Gavaskar produced a blitzkrieg against the Kiwis in the 1987 World Cup. And he was particularly harsh on a bowler who was known for his immaculate prowess in the 1980s – Ewen Chatfield.

Chatfield was the opening bowling partner of Sir Richard Hadlee in the 1980s. Together, they forged a partnership that ensured a dream run for the Kiwis through the decade. Chatfield had two unsuccessful coaching stints after his retirement.

He then tried his hand at lawn-mowing, working in a dairy farm and even took up a job as a salesman in a chip shop. He finally went on to become a driver for Corporate Cabs in Wellington.

#1 Chris Cairns

Chris Cairns talks to media after it was confirmed that he is under investigation for match-fixing

It is nothing short of tragedy that one of the greatest all-rounders of the 90s now has to do manual labour for a living. Chris Cairns' is the ultimate riches-to-rags story as he now spends his time driving trucks or cleaning bus shelters for $17 an hour.

The talented all-rounder got embroiled in a match-fixing controversy after his former team-mate Lou Vincent said he was lured by Cairns into the world of corruption which included offers of cash and sex to rig matches. The 44-year-old Cairns, having reportedly gone bankrupt, has now taken up a job with Auckland Council, which operates trucks.

Cairns' former teammate Dion Nash said, "He's trying really hard and supporting his family the best way he can. He's not moping around, he's showing guts and doing hard work by cleaning bus shelters. All I can do is support him, but as a friend it is really hard to watch his name being dragged through the mud with no conclusion in sight. He's a champion guy and he will come through this stronger."