Just 20 days after playing his first game for his new team, Goa, former India bowler Ashok Dinda on Tuesday retired from all forms of cricket.

Ashoke Dinda represented India in 13 ODIs and nine T20Is, bagging 12 and 17 wickets respectively.

The pacer during a press conference said, "Playing for India is everybody's objective, I played for Bengal thus I got the chance to play for India. I thank the BCCI for giving me an opportunity to play for the country. Senior players such as Rohan Gavaskar, Deep Das Gupta guided during my career. I got the support every time I picked a wicket.”

BCCI on its Twitter handle wrote, “As @dindaashoke retires from all forms of cricket, we wish him all the best for the future.”

"I have already not played for a season. My body was inactive. If I don't play more, it will be difficult and there won't be much fun at 38. What I want is that instead of me, some junior should play. That will be better. There are many options," said Dinda, who played 116 first-class games and took 420 wickets in a career spanning 15 years. He also bagged 151 wickets in 98 domestic one-day games.

"Coaching is an option. I am talking to the Goa Cricket Association also. Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Avishek Dalmiya has also offered me an opportunity to help in talent hunt for Bengal. He asked me to join next week. But I have not thought of it as yet. Want to spend some time with the family," he said.

(With inputs from IANS)