Shoaib Malik has expressed his interest to continue playing for Pakistan on multiple occasions. However, the star all-rounder has not been a part of the squad in a longest time. He also was not included in the 20-20 World Cup 2022 squad, despite being a part of the last edition in 2021.
Following Malik’s omission from the 20-20 World Cup, questions about the all-rounder’s international future arose. Before the start of the World Cup, the Pakistani star appeared on an expert panel for a national news channel, where he was asked about his future with the team once more.
A fan inquired as to whether Malik had already retired from international cricket. However, instead of the all-rounder, it was former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram who responded angrily. Akram was on the expert panel alongside Malik for the show, and the pace bowling legend did not attempt to hide his annoyance at the fan’s question.
“Ek minute. Ek toh tum logon ko har cheez ki badi jaldi hai. Agar usko retirement dena hai beta, toh vo retirement de dega. And if he wants to play cricket, he is one of the fittest cricketers in the world. (You guys are in a hurry for everything. If he has to retire, he will retire. Otherwise, even now, he is one of the fittest players in the world),” Akram said on A News.
Akram then urged Malik to respond, and Malik did so in a straightforward manner. He revealed that he had no plans to retire soon and that everyone would know when he did. “Main jab retirement lunga, vo sabko pata chalega. I’m enjoying my cricket right now, abhi aisa koi plan nahi hai. (When I will retire, everyone will know. I’m enjoying my cricket right now, so there’s no plan for that at the moment),” Malik stated.
In the meantime, The Men in Green are preparing to take on arch-rivals India in their World Cup opener at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
