4 Legendary batsmen who were not given a send-off by their board

Cricket is known as a gentleman's game. The players who represent their nation at the international level do so for the love of the game. They get money, fame, and adulation in return. Knowing that their journey will come to an end, they aspire for a farewell game along with a formal celebration of their achievements. Legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar, Alastair Cook, and others were given exemplary farewell by their respective cricket boards.

There have been times when few players were dropped due to poor form or injury and never picked up in the squad again. Since they were at the last legs of their career, they retired without getting a formal send-off.

We take a look at five such legendary cricketers who were denied farewell by their boards.

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#4 Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh was a superb middle-order batsman who played for Australia. A gifted stroke-maker, he played a crucial part in the dominance of Australia on the World cricket.

Waugh was a splendid slip fielder and a fine off-spinner. He played 128 Test matches and 244 ODI matches where he scored more than 16500 runs.

Waugh went through a lean period in 2001, so he was dropped in favor of Darren Lehman. He felt it was time for him to quit international cricket since there was no chance of a recall. He retired on October 28, 2002. At the press conference, he said, "Retiring was not a tough decision because I have now been dropped from both the one-day team and the Test team. At 37, and with there being so many talented youngsters about, I was smart enough to work out that there is not much chance of a recall and now is the right time to retire."

A player of his stature could have been treated differently by Cricket Australia and should have been given a farewell.

#3 Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul - Surrey v Lancashire

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was a left-handed middle-order batsman from the West Indies, who never got his due in the international cricket. He started out in 1994 and played for almost 21 years. Along with Brian Lara, he was the mainstay of the Caribbean batting line-up.

Chanderpaul had an awkward batting stance, but it was almost impossible to get him out. He played 164 Test matches and 268 ODI matches in which he scored more than 20,000 runs.

In 2015, he was dropped for a series against Australia. He wanted one farewell Test, but the Board declined. He announced his retirement on January 23, 2016. Chanderpaul told ESPNcricinfo, "I was given a NOC by West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) with a clause in it that I retire on the 23rd (January)."

It was improper for the WICB to be so harsh on a player of such accomplishments. He should have been treated nicely.

#2 Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan was a top batsman of his time, who made his debut in 1999 against South Africa. He could bat as an opening batsman and also in the middle order. Besides this, he was a successful English captain who helped his team regain the Ashes in 2005. He led England in 55 Test matches and won 26 of them.

Vaughan played 86 ODI matches and 82 Test matches in which he scored more than 7700 international runs. He was a beautiful timer of the ball with the ability to play big shots.

Vaughan did not play well in the series against South Africa, so he stepped down as the captain. He was not picked up for the West Indies tour due to the poor form. Looking at his bleak future, he decided to hang his boots on June 30, 2009. Vaughan said, "I have not played well enough. I haven't had the rhythm or form to be picked for an Ashes squad. I don't think it would have been the right decision to put me in."

The ECB should have given him a chance to celebrate his last international match with his fans and teammates.

#1 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag - India v Bangladesh:

Virender Sehwag has been one of the most explosive batsman of all time. He made his debut in 2001 against South Africa. As an opening batsman, he changed the way Test cricket was played. Sehwag made it attacking, fast, and explosive.

In his illustrious career, he played 104 Test matches and 251 ODI matches. Sehwag made in excess of 16800 international runs with an amazing display of shots and temperament. His 'See the Ball, Hit the Ball' philosophy was admired by none other than Ian Chappell. He is the only Indian batsman to hit two triple centuries in the Test matches.

However, he was coerced to retire from the sport when his poor form started. Sehwag said in a TV show Aap Ki Adalat, “Had the selectors told me they were going to drop me, I could have requested them to allow me to play my last Test in Delhi (vs Australia in 2013) and then announce my retirement, but they did not give me that opportunity. A sort of sadness shall always remain in my mind that I was not allowed to retire while playing, but anyway, it’s all a part of life for a sportsman.”