South Africa’s top order batsman Hashim Amla, who is considered one of the modern greats, has announced his retirement from international cricket. Amla, 36, enjoyed one of the most unrealistic cricketing careers becoming the first South African to score a triple hundred among a host of other records to his credit. Amla’s impact off the field was too equally impressive as he became the ambassador of the Muslim minority in South Africa. Former mate and Proteas superstar AB de Villiers congratulated Amla applauding the cricketer’s ‘fighting spirit and humility.’ “Unreal career Amla, so many doubted you early on, but your fighting spirit, humility and incredible one of a kind talent took you to the top of the mountain and ultimately to one of the best players in the world,” tweeted de Villiers. Unreal career @amlahash ! So many doubted u early on, but your fighting spirit, humility & incredible one of a kind talent took u to the top of the mountain and ultimately to one of the best players in the world and… https://t.co/LVxSIdeCoQ — AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) 8 August 2019 Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar called Amla a great brand ambassador of world cricket and wished him the best of luck for the future. The great #HashimAmla has surprised the world with his announcement to retire from all forms of cricket, what a legend & what a great human being & great brand ambassador of the game respect to you wish you best of luck .. — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) 8 August 2019 The former South African captain Shaun Pollock tweeted: “Congratulations to Hashim Amla on a fantastic international career…what an amazing journey it has been since seeing you for the first time in the Kingsmead nets in the late 90’s... well done.” Congratulations to Hashim Amla on a fantastic international career..what an amazing journey it has been since seeing you for the first time in the Kingsmead nets in the late 90’s... well done..respect..🏏👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @amlahash — Shaun Pollock (@7polly7) 8 August 2019 Thank you for blessing the cricket field legend - @amlahash. You are a role model both in an out of the ground. I wish the very best to you for your second innings. #Legend #Respect #RiseAndRise pic.twitter.com/v0sf3zvMFV — Babar Azam (@babarazam258) 8 August 2019 One of the great ambassadors of the great game. A South African cricket GIANT. Humility personified at all times - @amlahash. God bless pic.twitter.com/hWWuipxzL2 — Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) 9 August 2019 Amla was a regular feature in ICC’s top ten batsman. The South African has piled up 9,282 runs in 124 Tests at 46.41 with 28 centuries and 41 fifties. He was equally good if not more in the One Day Internationals (ODIs), holding the South African record of 27 ODI hundreds. Amla accumulated 8,113 runs at 49.46 with 27 hundreds and 39 half-centuries 181 ODIs. The batsman was also the quickest batsman to score 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000 ODI runs.