CHESTER-LE-STREET: England leg-spinner Adil Rashid on Monday, opened up regarding the future of his professional career, stating he has no plans to retire “any time soon”.
The 36-year-old spinner and right-arm speedster Jofra Archer are the only two members of England’s World Cup-winning team in the squad for the ongoing white-ball home series against Australia.
Rashid is the oldest member of the inexperienced England side by five years with fellow World Cup winners Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow left out of the squad, which features new faces.
Meanwhile, Adil Rashid remained confident about his future in the young team and said he has not thought about retirement yet.
“I have not thought about it [retirement] yet,” Rashid told the BBC.
“Keep playing, enjoy it, stay fit, bowl well, contribute to wins, hopefully World Cups and Champions Trophies – that is my ultimate aim.
“I have not thought about retiring or calling it a day any time soon.”
England, who failed to defend both their ODI and T20 World Cup titles, enter a rebuilding process with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in view or more certainly the next T20 World Cup in 2026 and 2027 ODI World Cup.
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The Three Lions had a rough start to their rebuilding process, having suffered crushing defeats in the first two ODIs of the five-match series against Australia. Their defeat in the second fixture at Headingley was their 10th in the last 14 matches.
“There have been big changes, new batters, new bowlers,” he said.
“It will take time. It will always take time when it is a rebuilding process.
“We have got every base covered in terms of bowling, batting, keeping.
“Everything is there for us. All we have to do now is play the game of cricket, enjoy it, string a few games together of winning and then off we go.”
Despite succumbing to a heavy defeat, England had something to cherish as Adil Rashid became just the third from the nation to amass 200 wickets in ODIs.
“I’m playing each game and each series as it comes and if I’m still enjoying it and performing well, I’ll keep carrying on,” Rashid stated ahead of the third ODI between England and Australia, scheduled here on Tuesday.
Rashid’s “best friend” Moeen Ali announced his retirement from international cricket earlier this month, just days after being left out of England’s white-ball squads for the Australia series.
“We always have that banter and vibes,” he added. “That’s not there anymore but that is life. Everything moves on.”
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