‘Skinny guy to Pakistan lifesaver’

When Shoaib Malik takes the field for Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup, the 39-year-old allrounder could be forgiven for feeling his age. 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 16-17 year old skinny guy. “He has turned out to be a lifesaver for Pakistan in limited-overs cricket. Even now, when you talk about fitness, he is superb.”