Ageless wonder Malik eyes big World Cup finish
When Shoaib Malik takes the field for Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup, the 39-year-old all-rounder could be forgiven for feeling his age. When Malik made his international debut in 1999, current teammates such as pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Junior, and batsman Haider Ali were not even born.
Vice-captain Shadab Khan was just one while skipper Babar Azam and all-rounder Hasan Ali had both just turned five.
Malik, still fighting fit, played his first one-day international against the West Indies at Sharjah in October 1999. Legendary paceman Wasim
Akram, who led
Pakistan in Malik’s first game, retired 18 years ago. “I remember when Malik came into the Pakistan team in 1999,”
Wasim Akram told AFP.
“I picked him up, he was a 1617 year old skinny guy and I initially picked him solely as a bowler and as a fielder and never knew that he can bat very well.” Malik, however, is not the oldest player at the World Cup — Chris Gayle, 42, who made his ODI debut a month before Malik, will be looking to steer West Indies to a third T20 title.
“He (Malik) has turned out to be a life-saver for Pakistan in limited-overs cricket. Even now, when you talk about fitness, he is superb and trains so extensively,” added Wasim. “I think young players should see him as a role model as he is still competing with them in domestic events and that shows how mentally strong he has been. He is looking good and that shows he wants to go on a high.” Babar Azam believes Malik will have a key role on and off the field in UAE.
“His experience will be an asset. He is still one of the fittest members of the squad,” Babar said on Sunday.
“We have to make a plan on including him in the playing XI.”
He has already ruled out playing in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. “I want to play the World Cup and go out on a high,” he said.
Pakistan start their T20 World Cup campaign against old rivals India in Dubai on Sunday.
He (Malik) has turned out to be a life-saver for Pakistan in limited-overs cricket
Wasim Akram Pakistan legend