Saeed Anwar of Pakistan

The Pakistan opener was among the eight senior players who were dropped from the squad after Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup earlier this year, despite being the only Pakistan player to score a century at the tournament.

Anwar told the Asian News Service that he had been contemplating retirement for some time, but was holding out for a possible re-call from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"The general opinion is that this is the right time for me to call it quits and go out gracefully," explained Anwar.

Anwar said he would announce his retirement at a press conference and made it clear he did not plan to criticise anyone or complain about the way he had been treated.

"It is better to go out on a positive note and in a way that is beneficial to Pakistan cricket," he said.

"I want to announce my retirement when people still think I can play."

Anwar said he had been disappointed at being dropped from the team after the World Cup as he thought he had done fairly well in the tournament.

"I don't know why the selectors have ignored me, and apparently they're not in a position to pick me again," he said.

Anwar's illustrious career started in 1989 and spanned over 14 years during which he accumulated 4,052 runs in 55 Tests with 11 hundreds and 25 fifties at an average of 45.52.

His record in one day internationals was just as impressive with 8,823 runs at an average of 39 in 247 games for Pakistan, including the highest one-day score of 194 that he made against India in 1997.