Pakistan’s veteran batter Shoaib Malik is confident of continuing in the national side despite suggestions and calls for retirement from outside aged 40.
Malik said despite his age, he can’t be considered a liability due to his contributions to the team. The right-hander is taking a lot of heart from his performances at the T20 World Cup last year and the recent Pakistan Super League 2022.
In UAE last year, Malik produced some critical runs in the middle-order. His 100 runs in four innings came at an average of 50 while striking at an eye-catching 181.81. He played an instrumental role in Pakistan’s run to the semis.
Soon, the batter led the runs chart for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2022, scoring 401 runs from his 11 innings at an average of 44.55 with a strike-rate of 137.32, including three half-centuries.
Key performances in two major assignments have given Malik confidence and reassurance around his game amidst talks of decline, age and slowing down reflexes outside.
Retired from Tests and ODIs, the experienced batter feels he is still of value to the Pakistan T20I set-up in the build-up to this year’s World Cup in Australia.
“Despite my age, no one can claim that I am a liability. I have performed at the highest level – especially in the T20 format –and I have shown my worth with the ball, with the bat, and especially in the field.
I am thoroughly enjoying my cricket right now because I am utilising all my experience and intensity during the games,”
Malik was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Malik was entrusted to do the hard job in the lower middle-order alongside the explosive Asif Ali during the T20 World Cup in the UAE, a role he is expected to continue performing for the team at the tournament’s next edition Down Under.
The T20 World Cup 2022 begins in Australia on October 16 and will run till the final on November 13. Pakistan kick off their campaign with a Super 12 clash against arch-rivals India in Melbourne on October 23.
