At 39, Shoaib Malik remains to be going robust and the veteran Pakistan batter credit his lengthy worldwide profession to his self obsession for health. Malik has been taking part in worldwide cricket for the reason that final century when a few of his present teammates weren’t even born, however nonetheless he’s thought to be one of many fittest within the present Pakistan staff, able to successful a match single-handedly.
Malik on Sunday confirmed his class as soon as once more with an astonishing 18-ball 54 to arrange Pakistan’s 72-run mauling of Scotland, their fifth consecutive win within the T20 World Cup. It was the event’s joint quickest half-century alongside India opener Okay L Rahul’s 18-ball 50, which additionally got here towards Scotland, as Pakistan stopped the Scots at 117 for six after posting an imposing 189 for 4.
Shoaib Malik is the Player of the Match!#WeHaveWeWill | #PAKvSCO | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/UfXZw7dBZ0
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 7, 2021
“…Well, to be honest, I would say I have self-obsession of seeing myself fit when I look at it in the mirror, and most importantly I’m still enjoying playing cricket, and it’s helping, as well, end of the day towards the team,” Malik stated on the post-match press convention. “I assume if you wish to keep match, then you definately’ve obtained to coach each day, and that’s what I’ve been doing.
“I’m not sure about playing a year more or two more years. Right now I’m in middle of a very important thing and not thinking about all that.” Pakistan topped Group 2 within the Super 12 stage and can tackle Australia within the T20 World Cup semifinals in Dubai on Thursday. “Of course we have seen Australia, the way they have been playing. They have been playing really good cricket. So are we. But of course it’s going to be a tough challenge for both the teams,” stated Malik after scoring his first half-century in an ICC occasion for the reason that 2009 Champions Trophy.
“It’s another game, then I guess the other batters have made plans, execute and just take it as another game. “…we have a few days in between before the semis, so I’m sure management will sit, our team is going to sit and they’ll definitely talk about and they’ll make plans, as well, for the semis,” he stated.
Malik was not a part of the preliminary 15-member Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup however got here in as a substitute for Sohaib Maqsood, who was dominated out because of a again downside. “I used to be taking part in on the Caribbean Premier League after they introduced the primary staff, and my identify was not there. Of course I felt dangerous. I used to be very dissatisfied.
“But I’ve seen a lot of the teams where my name was not there, so of course when you’re not part of World Cup team, then it hurts,” he stated. Malik had averaged 7.44 in 10 innings for Guyana Amazon Warriors within the Caribbean Premier League to initially miss out on choice within the preliminary squad.
“But as a professional cricketer or as a professional athlete your goal is to talk to yourself and somehow come out from that frustration. “I had the opportunity because I was playing in the Caribbean Premier League, and then I’ve come back, I played a domestic tournament because I still enjoy going to the ground, and that’s what keeps me going. “Overall in the dressing room, the atmosphere is really nice, and it’s just that we need to keep giving our best shot,” Malik added.
