rounder Andrew Symonds, whose powerful, big-hitting performances were often overshadowed by bruising run-ins with officialdom, announced his retirement Thursday. The 36-year-old said his decision would take effect immediately which rules him out of the forthcoming Indian Premier League where he had been due to play for MumbaiIndians. “Effective immediately, I am retiring from all forms of professional cricket,” Symonds said in a statement. “It is with regret that I will not be able to fulfil my final year of the IPL with the MumbaiIndians,” added the England-born cricketer. “MumbaiIndians and the IPL have both been very supportive of me, but the impending arrival of my first child is a priority.” Symonds, who featured in two World Cup winning squads, hasn't played for Australia since being sent home from the World Twenty20 in England three years ago. Sahara makes U-turn Business conglomerate Sahara Group Thursday returned as the main sponsor of the world's richest cricket body, reversing its earlier decision to end all commercial ties with the Indian cricket board (BCCI). India's cricket chiefs thrashed out a compromise with the Sahara group Thursday, paving the way for their long-time sponsor to remain on board. Sahara had severed ties with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Feb. 4 for what it said was a “one-sided emotional relationship” with the governing body. After negotiations over the past fortnight, both sides agreed that Sahara will continue as the national team's sponsor and also field its Pune Warriors franchise in the Indian Premier League. Among Sahara's complaints was that the BCCI had not allowed Pune to include five foreign players – instead of the stipulated four – in the playing XI for this year's IPL due to the unavailability of its star Yuvraj Singh. The Pune captain is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment in the United States for cancer and has been ruled out of the fifth edition of the Twenty20 league starting on April 4. A joint statement issued by BCCI president Narayanaswamy Srinivasan and Sahara boss Subrata Roy on Thursday said the group will “obtain consent” of the eight other franchises to allow Pune to field a fifth foreign player in the team. The Lucknow-based Sahara group, which has wide-ranging business interests including in finance, infrastructure, housing, media and consumer goods, also sponsors the Indian field hockey team. Sahara's existing sponsorship deal, at $719,000 per match, will end on Dec. 31, 2013.
