da jogodeouro： A first class career which started way back in the early 80s is on theverge of ending
Staff Reporter24-Apr-2001A first class career which started way back in the early 80s is on theverge of ending. Saba Karim, the former Indian cricketer iscontemplating retirement. Talking to this correspondent at a functionto announce the launch of an Under-16 school tournament Saba said,”The moment has probably come to call it a day. The possibility ofplaying for the country has ceased to exist. I had made up my mind along time back that when such a situation arrived, I would call it aday. The motivation to play for the country had kept me going. Now thechances of a comeback have disappeared. There are plenty of otherthings to do in life. So it is time to bid adieu.”The wicket-keeper has taken to wearing glasses since that fateful dayin May when Anil Kumble’s delivery struck him at the BangabandhuStadium in Dhaka. He knows that with glasses it will be difficult forhim to don the wicket-keeping gloves any more. So he has been thefirst one to congratulate Deep Dasgupta. “I gave him a call on Sunday.I told him to go and enjoy himself at the camp in Bangalore. He willlearn a lot of things. He should really utilize the chance of beingwith so many senior pros.” Karim who works in the CorporateCommunications Division of TISCO also felt bad at the way the RanjiTrophy final between Baroda and Railways was hosted. “Did you see theground where the final was played,” he asked incredulously. He agreedto the view that the Ranji Trophy final should always be played atcovered grounds simply because it is one of the most prestigioustournaments in the country. “There should be some security for theplayers” he said.Saba Karim is planning to go to England sometime within the next fewmonths. “I want to pick up a degree in coaching” he said. “I wouldlike to be associated with the game in some form or the other.” Atpresent, he is associated with various school level tournaments,trying to attract more and more young cricketers to the game.