Shoaib Malik all but confirmed his international retirement by stating that he is no longer interested in playing for Pakistan. Shoaib Malik has revealed that he had rejected an offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to become a selector for the senior men’s team just before the 2024 T20 World Cup. Pakistan were knocked out in the group stage of the tournament after suffering a shock defeat to USA and then losing to arch-rivals India.
The 42-year-old Shoaib Malik was one of the longest-serving members of the Pakistan National Cricket Team as he plied trade for the side across three formats from 1999 to 2021.
Shoaib Malik’s stellar career with Team Pakistan.
A former captain, Shoaib Malik played 35 Tests, the last of which came in November 2015, and scored 1898 at an average of 35.14 while taking 32 wickets. He played 287 and scored 7534 runs at an average of 34.55 and took 158 wickets as well. Shoaib Malik’s last ODI was against India in the 2019 World Cup. He played 124 T20Is and scored 2435 runs while taking 28 wickets.
Overall, Shoaib Malik played 446 international matches for Pakistan and scored 11867 runs at an average of 33.90. With the ball, he bagged 218 international wickets at an average of 38.46, an economy of 4.47, and a strike rate of 51.5. Looking at the experience Shoaib Malik brings to the table, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently appointed him as the mentor of the Stallions, which is one of the teams participating in the Champions One-Day Cup.
While 42-year-old Shoaib Malik hasn’t retired from international cricket, he hasn’t played for Pakistan since November 2021. Malik said he couldn’t take up the role as he was still playing domestic T20 cricket. However, according to Shoaib Malik, this isn’t the first time PCB offered him a top job as ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, they approached him to become one of the selectors of the national team.
Shoaib Malik reveals he rejected Pakistan top job before T20 World Cup 2024
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik recently revealed that he was approached by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup for the role of a selector. The all-rounder stated that didn’t want to be part of the selection committee and ended up rejecting the offer.
Explaining his reason behind turning down the opportunity, Shoaib Malik suggested that it wouldn’t have been fair, given that he still features in some tournaments as a player. Speaking at a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the 42-year-old said (from 5:05):
“I got an offer before the 2024 T20 World Cup. There was no chief selector then and the entire committee had the same power. Yes, I got the offer. However, I am still playing some cricket. How can I select the cricketers with whom I am playing currently It does not make sense to me that you are playing as well and are part of the selection committee too.”
Shoaib Malik also confirmed that the will be available for selection in the upcoming domestic T20 tournaments in Pakistan. The veteran cricketer opined that by playing in those competitions, he can guide youngsters with his experience, adding (from 5:35):
“I currently play just one format, and I will surely play in the domestic T20 competition. I think I can still play at the domestic level. That way, I can share my experience in a better way with the players.”
It is worth mentioning that Shoaib Malik will serve as a mentor of Stallions in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup in Pakistan.
Shoaib Malik is not interested for playing in Pakistan National Team in future
Shoaib Malik announced his retirement from Tests and ODIs in 2015 and 2019, respectively. He has yet to bid adieu to T20 cricket and continues to ply his trade for franchise-based leagues.
However, in the aforementioned press conference, Shoaib Malik clarified that he wasn’t interested anymore in playing T20Is for Pakistan. He remarked:
“I have already said that I am not interested in playing for Pakistan. I have already retired from Tests and ODIs. I have no interest in being part of Pakistan’s T20I team. Yes, I will continue playing at the domestic level. There are a few places where I still go and play, but I have already communicated to some leagues that I won’t be available. Regarding my retirement, I will leave it all at once.”
The Champions One-Day Cup is set to kick off on September 12 at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Pakistan’s top 150 cricketers will take part in the event. Shoaib Malik (Stallions), Misbah-ul-Haq (Wolves), Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Waqar Younis have been named mentors of the five teams.