Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has announced his retirement date from the ODI cricket. He will retire from this format after completing the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup journey that will be hosted by England and Wales. However, he has wished to continue the T20I cricket further.
Recently, Malik announced, “The 2019 World Cup is my last event of the 50-over cricket. I will try to play T20 cricket if I continue to stay fit and put up performances.”
Making an international cricket debut in October 1999, Malik has played 35 Tests, 261 ODIs and 98 T20Is where the right-handed batsman has scored a total of 10,862 runs and also the off-spinner has picked up a total of 214 wickets. While he retired from the Test cricket in November 2015, he continued his appearances in the other two international formats.
Being a member of Pakistan’s World T20 winning in 2009 and ICC Champions Trophy winning in 2017, Malik has now only one dream left to win the Cricket World Cup for Pakistan.
Talking about that, Malik said, “If you have made goals for yourself that keeps you running. I have made some for myself. We have already won two big events: the World T20 [in 2009] and the Champions Trophy [in 2017]. The only thing left in my career [to win] is that 50-over World Cup. That is the thing I am looking at which makes me work hard. I have big hopes from these youngsters and myself. We are going to give our best.”
Malik was also asked whether he is missing the Test cricket or not. In reply, the 36-year-old revealed that he has no regret to retire from the format in 2015.
Malik said on that, “You enjoy Test cricket till the time you are fit. Sometimes you have to take strong decisions. Many people take them keeping their future in mind. But, I tried to take it keeping the future of Pakistan cricket in my mind.
“Of course, I also thought about myself while announcing the retirement. I had to give time to my family and prolong my cricketing career. I have no regret that I made that decision. It came out in public like I took it overnight. That gap of five years in which I did not play a Test was a huge one. And, my retirement provided two-three youngsters an opportunity to play Test cricket. Now they are performing for the side on consistent basis. One can also serve your nation by retiring.”
Pakistan cricket team is now busy for the Zimbabwe tour where they will play a tri-nation T20I series against the hosts Zimbabwe and Australia and then they will play a 5-match bilateral ODI series against the hosts Zimbabwe. Malik is happy on team’s recent performances and hopeful for the near future.
The experienced Pakistan cricketer said, “Pakistan has put up performances on consistent basis in the recent past which we previously lacked. People now have hopes from us to win big events. This is a good sign. This represents that our team and structure are on the right track. These youngsters are great. What really is outstanding that those outside of the playing XI pray for the ones who are playing. It is a great keeping our culture in mind.
“You learn from playing a match, regardless of its nature or your experience. Even in a club match you learn the things that you normally don’t during practice. The team has gotten better in the shorter format because it is playing more and more matches.”
