When the announcement came in the middle of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, Jackson had been contemplating retirement for some time. He announced his decision to the team management before Saurashtra’s match against Punjab on 31 December. Jackson featured in five ODIs this season, scoring 71 against Puducherry in their tournament opener.

“It was on my mind before the tournament and I kept playing it game by game, but I told the team before the Punjab game, but they wanted me out,” Jackson said. . ESPNcricinfo “It was a great move from him and I’m really grateful for the gesture.”

Saurashtra’s performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, where they won six out of seven group stage matches to reach the quarter-finals, convinced Jackson that he was done.

“I don’t really know for how long, but my immediate focus is to try and see if I can help us make the knockouts. It’s tough but it’s still possible. And from there, I Will review my red ball future after the games.”

Sheldon Jackson on his future in first-class cricket

“The way Saurashtra youngsters played during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy made me believe that my time is up,” he said. “I didn’t think it was right to block anyone’s place. At 37-38, even if I score 5000 runs, I won’t be considered for the national team. It would be like I would have been out of the state team.

“In that sense, there was no room for growth. What was the point of holding on to my place when it wasn’t going to take me anywhere? I met Jaydev Shah (president of the Surashtra Cricket Association, who was then in Australia). (as the Indian team manager) and expressed his views and then told the captain (Jaydev Annadak) and the coach (Neeraj Odedra).

Jackson did not feature in any T20 games in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It is believed that the team management is interested in blooding young players. As it happened, several of them, like Jay Gohal, Rochit Ahir and Samar Gujjar, broke up.

“For the last two years, I didn’t even register for the IPL auction,” Jackson said. “And in all honesty, the incentive for someone to be a part of SMAT, especially if you’re not in the reckoning for the Indian team, is to get an IPL gig. Even if I wasn’t in the auction, it felt like that. It used to be pointless to just turn on the soldier and block a place.

“Because even if I wasn’t going to be in the XI, chances are I’d be in the 15. And that would mean holding back a young player’s place. So, in that sense, it wasn’t really one. A difficult decision, the time was right.

“I told the selectors a week before the SMAT. I’m not entirely sure how it’s going to go – whether I make their decision easier or if it’s already decided, I’m not sure how it will go. won’t be a part of – but I decided it was best to communicate clearly.”

Jackson is yet to play first-class cricket. A two-time Ranji Trophy winner and a veteran of 103 first-class games, he is hopeful of being able to give Saurashtra a chance to win a third title, however difficult it may be at the moment. Saurashtra are currently competing mid-table in the elite Group D and need to win both their remaining games against Delhi and Assam to make it to the knockouts.

“I still want to get into first-class cricket, at least for these two games, and then take it from there,” Jackson said. “I don’t really know for how long. But my immediate focus is on trying to see if I can help us make the knockout stages. About my red-ball future, I need full support from the team and Jay Dev and Niranjan Shah. Support is available.