Shoaib Malik said he has a “self-obsession” of seeing himself fit and also revealed his disappointment at missing out on Pakistan’s initial squad which then propelled the batter to a starring role at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
The veteran batter, 39, struggled badly for form in the Caribbean Premier League and missed out on Misbah-ul-Haq’s initial selection for the tournament. Shoaib Malik just managed 67 runs in 11 CPL games averaging a pathetic 7.44 at an extremely poor strike rate of 59.82.
Shoaib Malik Felt Disappointed On Missing Out From Pakistan’s Initial Squad For 2021 T20I World Cup
But Shoaib Malik managed to work his way back into contention and his brutal 18-ball fifty in Pakistan’s 72-run win over Scotland was the ultimate statement of intent. Shoaib Malik’s last T20I was in September 2020, and his last ODI was in June 2019 before being selected in the T20I World cup 2021.
He played 35 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 121 T20Is, amassing over 10,000 runs in all three formats combined, averaging above 30 in each. Shoaib Malik became the first Pakistani batsman to score 10,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket in October 2020.
“I was playing on the Caribbean Premier League when they have announced the first team, and my name was not there,” he said in the post-match press conference on Sunday.
“Of course I felt bad. I was very disappointed. But I’ve seen a lot of the teams where my name was not there, so of course when you’re not part of the World Cup team, then it hurts. 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.”
Shoaib Malik hit six sixes in what was Pakistan’s fastest-ever T20I fifty and the eighth quickest of all time. It helped his side post 189 which was enough for victory, seeing them top Group 2 and set up a semi-final clash with Australia.
Shoaib Malik Would Say He Has Self Obsession Of Seeing Himself Fit
Despite the length of his service in the international game, having made his debut in 1999, Shoaib Malik remains one of the fittest members of his squad. It’s clear that sheer vanity plays a part in him having maintained such high physical standards.
“Well, to be honest, I would say I have self-obsession of seeing myself fit when I look at it in the mirror,” he said.
“Most importantly I’m still enjoying playing cricket, and it’s helping, as well, end of the day towards the team. I guess if you want to stay fit, then you’ve got to train every day, and that’s what I have been doing. I’m not sure about playing a year more or two more years. Right now I’m middle of a very important thing and not thinking about all that,” he added.
Veteran batsman Shoaib Malik was later included in Pakistan’s Twenty20 World Cup squad, replacing top-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood, who was ruled out due to a back problem. Shoaib Malik scored 26*, 19, and 54* in 3 innings at T20I WC 2021.
Shoaib Malik smashed a quickfire 18-ball 54 not out — the fastest half-century of the tournament — as Pakistan scored 189-2 in 20 overs before keeping Scotland down to 117-6.
This gave Pakistan a mouth-watering semi-final against Australia in Dubai — a repeat of the 2010 T20 World Cup last four which the Australians won on the last ball in St Lucia. Veteran Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik admitted a T20 World Cup semi-final against a formidable Australia will give him “butterflies”.