Durban, Jan 10: South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini retired from international cricket at the end of the Twenty20 match played between India and South Africa in Durban on Sunday.

Ntini finished with figures of 0-46 from four overs and also came out to bat in front of a sell-out crowd of 50 000 fans, the biggest to watch a cricket match in South Africa, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the Age reports.

At the post-match presentation ceremony, South African President Jacob Zuma thanked the 33-year-old for the contribution he made to the game as the first black cricketer to represent the country.

The fast bowler later spoke of his pride at having gone from “a man behind the cow dung” to an international career that spanned 12 years.

“I want to thank everyone for their support. I love my fans. Thank you very much for everything. I won’t talk for long so here I say goodbye,” Ntini said.

Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar paid a tribute to Ntini saying: “He was a fierce competitor and a true champion because you knew that at the end of the day Makhaya would still be running in hard and trying to get you out.”