“Still available for T20 selections,” 41-year old Shoaib Malik hopes for a comeback

Shoaib Malik, an experienced all-rounder for Pakistan, believes he still has much to offer and keeps hope of rejoining the team’s T20I line – up. Malik, who turns 41 on February 1, has given up playing in Tests and ODIs but hasn’t given up T20 Internationals.

Malik believes he still has the drive to perform at the very best as he continues to compete successfully in numerous franchise-based T20 tournaments.

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“Trust me, even though I’m the oldest in the team, you can compare my fitness with a 25-year old. So, I guess what motivates me is I still enjoy coming to the ground and I still think that the hunger is there and until the time these two things are there, I’m gonna keep playing cricket and this is why I am not even thinking of retiring,” Malik, who is playing for Rangpur Riders in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League, told reporters at the Sylhet International Stadium on Sunday (January 29).

The seasoned player last played for Pakistan against Bangladesh in November 2021 and hasn’t been selected since.

“I would like to retire from internationals and complete cricket once and for all but right now I’m not even thinking about it and I am enjoying my cricket whenever I get an opportunity I do go and play. I have already retired from Tests and ODIs and T20s yes I’m still very much available and wherever I get my opportunity I will give my best shot.”

The seasoned player added that in order to meet the constantly evolving demands of T20 cricket, he wants to stay one step ahead of the competition.

“Well when T20 started, I guess 130/140 runs were enough and today even 220/230 runs are not enough when you are playing on a good track. So I guess the revolution has been there and it changed a lot since T20 got started and I guess as a cricketer it is your responsibility to stay a step ahead so you can compete at a higher level and be consistent at your own game,” he said.

“What I have been doing and I have been trying is to stay a step ahead so that I can meet the requirement where ever I go and play. I’ve been working on a couple of different varieties in my bowling. The minute a spinner comes in and bowls, every batter starts coming after that offie so I need work on some variations and I’ve been working on that.”