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EAST LONDON, South Africa, Sunday - Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower brought the curtain down on his glittering international career on Saturday but his final innings ended in sad circumstances.

As his team chased 257 to win their World Cup Super Six match against Sri Lanka at East London, the 34-year-old was controversially given out lbw to Aravinda de Silva despite getting an inside edge.

Flower had made 38 at the time and was at the wicket with brother Grant when he made his exit with the score at 140-4.

Earlier, the left-hander had confirmed his retirement from international cricket and thanked those who supported him during his 13-year career.

He made it clear he was leaving Zimbabwe with his family but said he hoped to return "in years to come."

"For the last 13 years it has been an honour and a privilege to represent my country.

The decision to bring my international career to an end has been a difficult and sad one to make.

"However, it is now time for my family and I to move on. Perhaps, in the years to come, I will be able to play a role in the cricketing fortunes of Zimbabwe.

"To all Zimbabweans who have supported me from my debut until today I want to say thank you."

Flower's wife and three children have already moved from Zimbabwe to England where he will play county cricket for Essex this year.

Flower and team-mate Henry Olonga won worldwide praise when they donned black armbands during the country's first World Cup match against Namibia in Harare to protest against the Zimbabwe government.

Flower went into Saturday's match with a Test record of 4,794 runs in 63 matches.

He had also made 6,723 runs in 212 one-dayers.

"I have no regrets about what I have done at this tournament," the batsman had told AFP on Wednesday.

"I always find it strange when people say they have no regrets about what they have done in the last 20 years," said Flower. "I have made mistakes both on and off the field but I have kept learning."

Flower, whose brother Grant also plays in the Zimbabwe World Cup team, had been threatened with being dropped from the squad if he did not give up on his protest which bitterly attacked the Mugabe regime.

He refused and his place was secured when other senior players said they would not take the field if their star batsman was axed.

Olonga - who lost his place after the first match against Namibia, returned for the defeat to Kenya and was dropped again on Saturday - has already been sacked by his domestic club for his part in the protest. (AFP)

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