M SINGH DHONI
(India)

Dhoni, then sporting long hair, entered Indian folklore when he captained the country to the inaugural World T20 title in 2007. Nine years later and if hosts India become the first country to lift the trophy for a second time, anticipation is high that "Captain Cool" will decide the time is right to walk away from international cricket. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has already retired from Tests and despite remaining the brains behind India's on-field strategy, there is gathering evidence that his best playing days are behind him.

SHAHID AFRIDI
(Pakistan)

Pakistan legend Afridi quit Test cricket in 2010 and ODIs after last year's World Cup, and the destructive batsman that fans call "Boom Boom" clearly has retirement on his mind. The 36-year-old, Pakistan's T20 skipper, has seen a big dip in his batting form over the last few years years and more recently his leg-spinners have also failed to trouble batsmen. His decline, including poor performances against New Zealand in January and England in November, has coincided with a slump in form for Pakistan in T20 internationals.

LASITH MALINGA
(Sri Lanka)

Malinga, 32, is the highest wicket-taker in T20 history and captained Sri Lanka to the World T20 crown two years ago. His ability to bowl yorkers at will as he spearheaded Sri Lanka's pace attack has made him a mainstay of the island's recent success in short-formcricket. Major injuries have curtailed his career, however, Malinga gave up Tests at a relatively young age in 2011. "If at this stage I have to take one or one-and-a-half years of rest, I would rather have to finish my career," Malinga said during the Asia Cup.

SHANE WATSON
(Australia)

Shane Watson has consistently defied critics to bounce back into the Australian side after serious injuries, and was the highest earner in this year's Indian Premier League auction. But at 34, time is surely running out for Watson on the international stage. After quitting Test cricket following last year's Ashes defeat to England, Watson was dropped from the ODI squad and admitted that a return to the international team was unlikely. But a successful season with Sydney Thunder in Australia's Big Bash League earned Watson a berth for this year's series against India. 

T DILSHAN
(Sri Lanka)

Popular Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan has enjoyed a lengthy career and is an expert exponent of Twenty20international cricket, thanks in part to his invention of the "Dilscoop", a reverse flip-shot played over his head. But at age 39, the former Sri Lankan captain is unlikely to be able to put off retirement for much longer. On many occasion, Dilshan had helped his team win crucial matches single-handedly. His retirement at this stage could proved fatal for already struggling Sri Lanka, who had to find a better replacement of this great player.