I can play for another six to eight years: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Malik-c90088 – Cricket News Update
Despite his uncertain position in Pakistan’s national squad, all-rounder Shoaib Malik is convinced he still has what it takes to represent the country on the International stage.
“I can play for another six to eight years. The mid-thirties are the best years for a batsman,” the 30-year-old claimed.
Malik’s role in the squad has continued to fluctuate throughout his career. After starting out as an off-break bowler, he has settled in as a batting all-rounder. His career spans 203 ODIs and 32 Tests, and he has also served as captain of the national side,
leading them through 36 One-Day Internationals, 3 Tests, and 17 T20Is.
After a break of roughly one-and-a-half year, the right-hander returned to the squad for the recent series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in the UAE.
“I recovered most of my form in the last ODI against England,” Malik said. “That gave me a lot of confidence which can be seen in my performance in the T20s.”
Malik featured in the squad as a last-minute addition, on the insistence of skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972. After claiming zero scalps and scoring an unimpressive 7 in the first ODI at Abu Dhabi, he went on to amass 23 off 33 in the 4th ODI and followed
that up with 39 in the first T20I. However, from there onwards, he remained mediocre, contributing only 12 runs to the total in the second T20, and not getting a chance to play at all in the final match of the series.
His inconsistent performances led to him being dropped from the squad for the ongoing Asia Cup.
“I almost regained my confidence after struggling in the previous months. Being snubbed for the Asia Cup has broken the tempo but I’m a professional cricketer and such things happen,” he observed.
Owing to poor form, his return to the squad was questioned by many, with ex-pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Akhtar-c90080 going so far as to insist that Malik was involved in behind-the-scenes politics, and had used his influence to elbow his way back into the squad. However, Malik
emphasized that he was not the sort to impose himself on the team.
“I’m not the kind of player who’ll keep on playing. If I feel I can’t perform anymore, I will quit,” he insisted.
Despite his below par performances in international matches, his recent outings for the PIA in Pakistan’s ongoing domestic Faysal Bank One-Day Cup have been fairly solid, including 149 runs and seven wickets in four matches.
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