Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik on Wednesday said he might continue to play after this Year’s T20 World Cup if his body permits. However, he earlier announced that he will quit the international cricket post the mega event. He retired from Test cricket in 2015 after scoring a double century in a home series against England in the UAE and ODIs after the 2019 World Cup but is still playing in the T20 cricket.
“Yes I had said I will retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup (in 2019) and I did that and I also said I might retire completely after the World Cup T20. But right now I think it is about short-term goals when the time comes I will think about it,” he said.
“As a senior player I have a responsibility and goal and thankfully my body is supporting me in my career and I will continue to play till I feel good about it. I am not someone who will hang around just for the sake of it,” he added.
Shoaib Malik said that he was upset after facing all the criticisms after the dismal 2019 World Cup and for being ignored for the national T20 side as well. However, he along with Muhammad Hafeez has recalled to the Pakistan T20 team for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh.
“I am a human being and I can also fail and yes I can also have negative thoughts and get angry for what happened. My performances in the World Cup were not good but I have always performed well in the T20 format,” Malik said.
“I am not insecure and I am sure that as long as I am fit I can achieve anything. My goal has always been to be good enough to play for my country. I wanted to make a comeback that is why after the Caribbean Premier League, I reached Faisalabad and played in the National T20 event,” he expressed. “Whatever happened, I have forgotten and moved on. A new team management has come in and I think they were right in giving chances to other players and trying to build a balanced outfit.”
Shoaib Malik, who has played in 111 Twenty20 internationals, also said that he was not disappointed after being dropped from the central contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board. However, he shared that he was not thinking about the World T20 in Australia later this year but he is focusing on the Bangladesh series now.
“We have lot of youngsters coming through. So they looked at it that way and this time they have also reduced the number of players who were given central contracts,” he told. “I am not thinking about the World Cup. I will try to give my best at whatever opportunity I get now. I have not set long-term goals as the World Cup is far away.”
“I just want to perform and help groom the youngsters in the dressing room. I and Hafeez want to share our experiences with them,” he concluded.
