PCB committee clears Shoaib Malik from all charges
PCB to deny Malik fresh central contract
LAHORE: Pakistan's former captain, Shoaib Malik has been ruled out of contention to get a central contract from the Pakistan Cricket Board as he has still not been able to satisfy the integrity committee about an amount of 90,000 pounds in his account.
Sources in the board said that Malik, Danish Kaneria, Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar who had announced their retirements were out of contention for getting a central contract.
"In Malik's case he has provided everything that was asked for by the integrity committee of the board except for the questions surrounding the fate of the 90,000 pounds," one source said.
The source said that the amount was found in one of Malik's accounts backdated but than went missing in the latest bank statement he submitted to the board.
Super Eight T20 to start from June 24
LAHORE - Pakistan's most popular Faysal Bank Super Eight Twenty20 Cup 2010-2011 will be held at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad from June 24 to July 1, Pakistan Cricket Board announced here on Friday.
The tournament is being staged for first time in Faisalabad with day-night matches. The teams are divided into two groups. In group ‘A’, teams are Lahore Lions, Sialkot Stallions, Islamabad Leopards and Hyderabad Hawks while Faisalabad Wolves, Rawalpindi Rams, Karachi Dolphins and the Multan Tigers are drawn in group ‘B’.
The first and second semi-final will be held on June 30 followed by the final on July 1, 2011. Faisalabad Wolves will clash with Multan Tigers in the opening match of the competition. Lucrative prize money will be on offer with winners earning Rs 2.5 million while runners-up grabbing Rs one million.
Commenting on the event, COO PCB Subhan Ahmad said: "The partnership between PCB and Faysal Bank will go a long way in improving the standard of domestic cricket in the country. The PCB has a resolve to assure that people can watch the stars playing live in absence of international cricket in Pakistan. To spread out on this, Faisalabad was chosen as the venue for this big event," he said.
"Our partnership with Faysal Bank seeks to further strengthen the domestic game in line with our vision of providing opportunities at the grassroots level". "Sponsoring domestic cricket is one way in which Faysal Bank wants to contribute back to society. We got an overwhelming response in the last Faysal Bank Twenty20 and are anticipating an even better response from Faisalabad." Head Retail Faysal Bank Aarij Ali reiterated the banks commitment to cricket. Two matches will be played every day starting at 5 pm and 9 pm respectively.
Sialkot Stallions remain the team to beat as they are the most successful domestic T20 side of Pakistan with five titles to their credit out of the total.
sialkot stallions squad
2. Faisal Naved
3. Shahid Yousuf
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Mansoor Amjad
6. Ali Khan
7. Adeel Malik
8. Abdur Rehman
9. Shakeel Ansar
10. Sarmad Anwar
11. Haris Sohail
12. Naved-ul-Hasan
13. Qaiser Abbas
14. Ali Bhutta
Reserve Players
15. Prince Abbas
16. Farhan Malik
17. Mutazar Mehdi
18. Sarfraz Ahmed
Shoaib vows good show in Twenty20
He said that the Sialkot Stallions was favourite to win the T-20 championship, as the Sialkot Stallions in a very good nick and ready to regain National Twenty20 title.
I COULD HAVE WON THIS WORLD CUP FOR PAKISTAN: SHOAIB MALIK
Pakistan’s discarded middle-order batman Shoaib Malik has admitted to the fact that he is currently passing through the toughest time of his career after he was excluded from Pakistan’s 15-member World Cup squad.
Malik, while giving an interview to a foreign radio, admitted that playing the World Cup is every player’s dream and it is very hurtful for him to admit that he would not be playing in this year’s World Cup, which is set to begin from the 19th of February in the subcontinent.
Malik expressed sadness for being overlooked by the selection committee when he was at the peak of his form. He said, “And it becomes more disappointing when one is ignored when one is in the best form of his life. I have never been in form like this before in 11 years of my international career the way I played in the recently concluded Quaid Trophy.”
Sania helping 'disappointed' hubby in handling career crisis
“Sania, being herself as a sports woman, knows how to face this kind of situation. She had been through some ups and down as well. I am very lucky to have Sania as my wife who is sporting and helping me at every step to handle all this,” said Malik in an exclusive interview with Deutsche Welle Urdu service.
He also said playing in the ICC World Cup is the utmost desire of every cricketer in the world.
“And it becomes more disappointing when one is ignored when one is in the best form of his life. I have never been in form like this before in 11 years of my international career the way I played in the recently concluded Quaid Trophy,” the Daily Times quoted him, as saying to the German radio broadcaster.
Shoaib Maliks assets challenged in session court
A Pakistani lawyer on Saturday filed a petition seeking local court's direction to the police to register a criminal case against Test cricketer Shoaib Malik for allegedly making millions of rupees through match-fixing. In the petition filed in the court of the additional sessions Judge here, Ishtiaq Ahmed Chaudhry alleged that Malik not only made millions of rupees through match-fixing but also damaged the country's image.
Chaudhry contended that the Pakistan Cricket Board had reportedly excluded Malik from the 30 probables for the 2011 World Cup because of his alleged corruption and links with the match-fixing mafia.
Who paid 90,000 pounds to Malik?
Malik, who was at the centre of some nasty controversies in 2010 including allegations of under-performing during the tours of Australia and England and leading an ugly revolt against former captain Younis Khan, was sidelined by the PCB on the instructions of the ICC soon after the spot-fixing scam at Lord`s last August.
According to sources, the all-rounder failed to explain to the PCB committee the source of the whopping 90,000-pound transaction in his bank account in the UK and could only come up with a reply that he had no clue whatsoever where the money had come from.
Besides, the submitted details of his income as well as his assets carried various discrepancies which raised doubts about his suspect activities on and off the field and compelled the PCB integrity committee to hold his name back as the selectors named 30 probables for the World Cup.
The experienced all-rounder, who got married to celebrated Indian tennis star Sania Mirza last year, was also dished out a one-year ban by the PCB in March 2010 for his undisciplined conduct on the tour Down Under in 2009-10. However, the ban was abruptly lifted just a few weeks later with reports of intervention from the country`s top official splashed in the press.—Agencies
It’s not the end of the world
Malik was not considered for the 30-man World Cup squad that was announced on Tuesday alongside leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.
“I’m deeply disappointed after the exclusion from the preliminarily squad,” Malik told reporters. “Every player dreams to represent the country in the World Cup and I was also looking forward to it. I really wanted to help my team win the tournament and my form in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy has been very good.”
Malik has scored 725 runs in the tournament in just seven innings of four matches including four centuries and two fifties. The former captain, who was dropped after the England tour, was one of three players being questioned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Integrity Committee (IC) along with Kaneria and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. The three players were also asked to submit details of their assets and bank account to the board.
“What is strange is that neither the PCB nor the national selectors have given any reason for ignoring me and in fact the board’s press release said nothing against me,” said Malik.
The PCB had delayed naming the World Cup squad due to the three players’ clearance issue and while Malik claimed he did everything the PCB asked him, the IC did not give him the green signal.
Malik was reportedly under the International Cricket Council (ICC) scanner over suspicions of match-fixing. The Express Tribune, however, understands that the former captain was not included because of his failure to explain a bank transaction to the IC.
“I think I cleared up everything but I don’t want to comment any further. I want to play my cricket and perform. The rest is upto the selectors.
“I’m certainly disappointed but instead I’ll take the opportunity to play domestic tournaments and wherever cricket is being played in the world. Cricket is my bread and butter and I don’t want to muddle up myself in any controversy.”
Malik, who led Pakistan between 2007 and 2009, also clarified that he had no disputes with any player or the PCB. “I don’t have any differences with any one. I’ve been playing for quite a long time and under various cricket boards so I don’t want to go against any one and disrupt my ongoing form.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2011.
Shoaib Malik,Kamran Akmal doubtful for Pakistani World Cup squad
The duo has failed to provide convincing answers to queries by PCB's integrity committee, well-placed sources were quoted as saying in The News Sunday.
'There is information available to the integrity committee that Malik received 90,000 British pounds in one of his bank accounts,' said a source. 'When questioned by the integrity committee, Malik expressed complete ignorance about the amount which was transferred to his bank account in the UK,' he added, stressing that the committee told the all-rounder that he will have to explain from where and why such a big amount was transferred to his account.
Shoaib malik's simplicity impressed me a lot: Sania mirza
Nine months into her marriage, India's tennis sensation, who broke many a heart when she decided to marry Shoaib, considers herself the "luckiest girl on earth".
Sania can't stop raving about Shoaib.
"The simplicity of Shoaib had impressed me a lot. Today he is the same person as he was before marrying me," Sania told 'The News' shortly after winning her first tennis match in Dubai.
Shoaib was present to cheer her on, she said.
"In practical life I have got my prince of dreams," Sania said.
"I have married a great person who is also a great cricketer and it had also brought two countries closer. It is in fact a marriage of two civilizations."
Sania said she was happy with life and it has been smooth sailing for the couple.
Shoaib Malik ignored for the Kiwi tour because of Super Sixes final ?
Sources said Malik, who was ignored by the selectors on Tuesday for the New Zealand tour despite his terrific form in domestic cricket, may have been sidelined because of the Hong Kong tournament.
"Malik was captain and in the final opponents Australia required 48 runs in the final over to win the match. Imran Nazir, a part time bowler, was given the ball and incredibly even in the super sixes format he conceded 48 runs bowling a number of wides and no-balls in the decisive over," one source said.
He said the final over had raised eyebrows in the Pakistan Cricket Board and given Malik's disciplinary record, the selectors decided to play it safe.
"If a player has scored three big hundreds in succession in domestic cricket he is always a serious contender but in Malik's case his ouster may also be linked to non-cricketing reasons," the source said.
'Teach my husband a few romantic lines'
"Shah Rukh's strength is the way he talks and he also romances in a very charming way in his films.
So, I asked him to share some tips with Shoaib and teach him a few romantic lines so he would talk more. It was all done in good humour and Shah Rukh was pulling our leg all through the act," said Sania.
Malik hits back at Pak Asian Games delegation
Image via WikipediaKARACHI: Former cricket captain Shoaib Malik on Tuesday reacted angrily to reports that his presence at the Guangzhou Asian Games athletes' village has surprised Pakistan officials there as he was not part of their contingent.
"I think if anyone should be concerned about my presence in the village it should be the Indian delegation. I don't know what problem the Pakistani delegation had with my being in the village," Malik said.
Pakistan contingent members had on Sunday said that Malik was not issued any visitor's card by them nor had he applied for any accreditation on their behalf.
Malik said he had gone to China to join his wife, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza during Eid holidays as he got a week long break in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy domestic tournament.
"I got proper access and entry into the village through my wife and was given accreditation. I stayed with her in the village.
"I came back immediately after the holidays and playing again for my department. Obviously spending time with my wife and concentrating on my cricket career are both important for me," the cricketer said.
Spotted in Guangzhou: Shoaib Malik
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik’s conspicuous presence at the Guangzhou Asian Games athletes’ village surprised the Pakistan contingent as the country’s national Olympic committee has denied issuing him any accreditation card — a prerequisite for his stay.
Days before Eid-ul-Azha, Shoaib was spotted regularly in the athletes’ village where he kept on dinning and passing time.
Only those athletes are allowed to stay at the Games village who are representing their respective countries or have been issued special passes by the Olympic committee.
When the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) official was approached in Guangzhou, he denied having given any accreditation card to Shoaib Malik.
“When we spotted Shoaib Malik in the Asian Games village, we were also surprised as being a Pakistani; he should have contacted us for issuing him a necessary card to visit the Village. It is not clear whether he is staying in the Village or whether he turns up every day to meet his wife,” the official said.
He pointed out they had also noticed the former cricket captain turning up either earlier or late for dining, probably in a bid to avoid being seen by Pakistani sportsmen.
Sania Mirza, Shoaib’s wife, is representing India in the Games’ tennis event. She is one of the favourites to win ladies single title.
The POA official confirmed that the cricketer was seen regularly at the Games Village and that cannot be possible without staying there. “We have no idea how he manages to spend so much time in the village,” he said. “He must be having accreditation card and that is the reason why he is here. However, the POA has nothing to do with his accreditation,” he said.
It is still not clear whether or not Malik returned to Pakistan to celebrate Eid or is still in the Games village in China.
Meanwhile on Thursday, Sania Mirza dedicated her opening Asian Games win to husband, and former Pakistan captain, Shoaib Malik.
Sania, whose ranking has slumped to 166 following a series of injuries, needed just under an hour to clinch a 6-1, 6-0 win, showing no signs of the illness which forced her to skip the women’s team event. “My husband came here today, that made me very confident and I felt good.”
Sania Mirza praises husband Shoaib for victory
GUANGZHOU ( China): Sania Mirza dedicated her opening Asian Games win to husband, and former Pakistan cricket captain, Shoaib Malik on Thursday as the Indian golden girl romped past Hong Kong's Chan Wing Yau.
Mirza, whose ranking has slumped to 166 following a series of injuries, needed just under an hour to clinch a 6-1, 6-0 win, showing no signs of the illness which forced her to skip the women's team event.
"I didn't feel well in the last two weeks," said the 24-year-old, who captured a gold and two silvers at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
"I was absent from the team event, but now I feel much better.
"My husband came here today, that made me very confident and I felt good."
Mirza next tackles Chinese sixth seed Zhang Shuai who needed just 33 minutes to defeat roly-poly Nepalese Malika Rana in an embarrassing mismatch.
Zhang, the world 91, enjoyed six breaks of serve and hit 30 winners to her opponent's two.
The Nepalese player won just nine points in the entire match.
"Sania is a very strong opponent and we respect her," said Zhang, who defeated Mirza at the Guangzhou Open in the same Aoti Tennis Centre courts this season.
Women's top seed Kimiko Date Krumm, the oldest player in the draw at 40, opens her campaign on Friday, 16 years after she won gold at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima.
Read more: Sania Mirza praises husband Shoaib for victory - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/16th-asian-games-2010/india-news/Sania-Mirza-praises-husband-Shoaib-for-victory/articleshow/6946192.cms#ixzz15oZIF200
Waqar, Afridi disagree on Malik's omission
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Reliable sources told PTI that Waqar wanted Malik and Amin to be retained in the one-day squad and had disagreed with Mohsin and Afridi when they consulted him on phone while finalising the squad on Wednesday.
"Waqar felt that Pakistan needed Malik's experience for the one-day series and he would get back into form soon. While he also believes that Umar Amin is a great talent for the future and must be given confidence," one source said.
Malik played in three Tests in England and failed in them while Amin too came a cropper.
Both were dropped from the one-day squad by the selectors owing to poor form.
Malik’s omission from One Day Squad is unjustified: Mudassar Nazar
Mudassar further added, “The selection of Mohammad Hafeez is surprising. He has not done well whenever he’s been give an opportunity. I think he’s been selected just because Malik is not in the squad and Pakistan want to a play a batsman who can also bowl 10 overs.”
Shoaib Malik dropped for England ODI and T20 series
The 28-year-old Malik was also recently left out of Pakistan's test side after scoring just one half-century in his last six matches.
The 16-man squad included fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and allrounder Abdul Razzaq, who were ignored for the test series against Australia and England this summer.
Shahid Afridi, who has quit as test captain, will continue to lead Pakistan in the limited-overs formats.
The selectors did not get clearance from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt to consider former captain Younis Khan for the Twenty20 and ODIs against England.
"Even today I asked the chairman about Younis, but could not get clearance," Afridi told reporters.
Shoaib Malik unlikely to get PCB central contract
"The selectors are unhappy with Malik's performance after he was recalled following the reversal of his ban and are not willing to recommend his name for the contract when they meet chairman Ejaz Butt later this month," a PCB official was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune Monday.
Malik along with Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were not given the new central contract and instead were slapped with fines and bans after the team's performance on the winless Australian tour was reviewed.
Malik and Hasan were banned for one year before the former not only had his ban overturned but was also selected for the Asia Cup, thus increasing his chances of being awarded the contract.
However, the central contracts were to be reviewed last month but with the PCB chairman travelling to England, the meeting is now scheduled to take place later this month. Butt had previously said Malik will only get the central contract after approval by the selection committee.
Malik, one of the most experienced players in the team with 31 Tests and 192 One-Day Internationals, has scored just 89 runs in three Tests in England besides making 46 from his two outings in the Asia Cup that was held in Sri Lanka.
"The selection committee is not in favour of recommending Malik's name, it is highly unlikely that the he will get the new contract until and unless he scores heavily in the remaining matches," said the official while adding that the selectors want to recommend the name of youngsters when they meet the chairman to discuss central contracts.
"The PCB and the selection committee is interested in awarding central contracts to the youngsters and that is why they have already ruled out awarding a contract to fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar."
He, however, said the selectors are undecided on Yousuf, who joined the team in England but is yet to be seen in action.Malik and Hasan were banned for one year before the former not only had his ban overturned but was also selected for the Asia Cup, thus increasing his chances of being awarded the contract.
However, the central contracts were to be reviewed last month but with the PCB chairman travelling to England, the meeting is now scheduled to take place later this month. Butt had previously said Malik will only get the central contract after approval by the selection committee.
Malik, one of the most experienced players in the team with 31 Tests and 192 One-Day Internationals, has scored just 89 runs in three Tests in England besides making 46 from his two outings in the Asia Cup that was held in Sri Lanka.
"The selection committee is not in favour of recommending Malik's name, it is highly unlikely that the he will get the new contract until and unless he scores heavily in the remaining matches," said the official while adding that the selectors want to recommend the name of youngsters when they meet the chairman to discuss central contracts.
"The PCB and the selection committee is interested in awarding central contracts to the youngsters and that is why they have already ruled out awarding a contract to fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar."
He, however, said the selectors are undecided on Yousuf, who joined the team in England but is yet to be seen in action.Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to offer a central contract to all-rounder Shoaib Malik after his poor showing in the ongoing Test series against England.
"The selectors are unhappy with Malik's performance after he was recalled following the reversal of his ban and are not willing to recommend his name for the contract when they meet chairman Ejaz Butt later this month," a PCB official was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune Monday.
Shoaib Malik Sania celebrity couple was dubbed “shonia” by the media
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Now the Shonia became buzzword after it being used as a question in the KBC 4 /Kaun Banega Crorepati 4. In a question when it was asked that which celebrity couple is known as the Shonia with the four option people around India searching for the Shonia or who is known as the Shonia among the Celebrity couple
The question was..
Shoaib Malik glad of 'anti-Aussie' support
AFP
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has said the support for his team in the series against Australia has come as no surprise, saying even England fans like to see Ricky Ponting's team beaten.
Pakistan were cheered on to victory in two back-to-back Twenty20 victories over Australia at Edgbaston this month by raucous fans and also attracted good support at a more sedate Lord's for last week's 150-run first Test loss.
Now they are hoping Pakistan fans in the Leeds area, which boasts one of Britain's largest Asian populations, will turn out for the second and final Test against Australia which starts at Headingley here on Wednesday.
"It's not a surprise to get so much support like we did in the two Twenty20 matches and at Lord's," Malik said at a reception hosted by the Pakistani community in nearby Bradford, north-west of Leeds.
"Even the England supporters love to see Australia beaten."
Pakistan were forced to play this 'home' series in England because of security concerns in Pakistan where international cricket was halted following an armed assault on Sri Lanka's team bus in Lahore in March last year.
The attack, which left eight people dead besides injuring seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach, ended all hopes of Pakistan staging any international matches in the foreseeable future.
Since then, Pakistan has played home series in New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.
But Malik said England was an ideal "home away from home" for Pakistan.
"Considering the situation (in Pakistan) we have an ideal home in England where the conditions are excellent and the support is overwhelming. It would be ideal to play at home, but England can become our second home.
"We expect the same support at Leeds because there is a big Pakistani community living here and in the adjoining cities."
Malik, 28, was not a member of the Pakistan team that lost at Lord's but he is set to play at Headingley.
He is line to replace Shahid Afridi who led Pakistan at Lord's but then announced his retirement from Test cricket minutes after the heavy defeat.
Malik said he was confident of staging a comeback in the Test team.
"I have not played a Test for a while now, but I am eager to get back and avail the chance I get at Leeds," said Malik, who hit a fifty in his last Test against Australia at Hobart in January.
In March, he was among the seven top players who were banned and fined for disciplinary reasons by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Malik was fined two million rupees (₨1,130,761.75 (24,000 dollars) ) and banned for one year, sanctions overturned by an arbitrator on appeal.
While serving the ban, Malik married Indian tennis star Sania Mirza in April.
Malik, sacked as captain in January last year, has so far played 29 Tests, 192 one-day and 32 Twenty internationals for Pakistan.
Malik should’ve been made the captain: Geoff Lawson
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2010.
LONDON: Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson labelled out-of-favour former captain Shoaib Malik as the ideal and ‘obvious’ choice to lead the team instead of Salman Butt following Shahid Afridi’s decision to retire from Test cricket with immediate effect due to injury and ‘lack of Test temperament’.
Malik, who was omitted in favour of youth for the first Test at Lord’s, was first appointed captain in April 2007 following Pakistan’s first-round exit in the 50-over World Cup. However, after impressive results against minnows and poor show against potent opposition, Malik was eventually replaced by Younus Khan with his stained relationship with seniors deemed integral to his downfall.
Lawson, sacked as coach after only year-and-a-half into his two-year contract, reckoned that Malik was handed captaincy too early in the past and given that the current squad is full of youngsters, Pakistan has no choice but to rename Malik as captain.
“It might’ve been premature to name him captain then,” Lawson told The Express Tribune following Pakistan’s 150-run loss at Lord’s. “But three years on, he’s certainly capable of being captain again. To me, he’s the obvious choice. He’s well respected by the younger players and the seniors that had problems with him aren’t in the team.
“In 2007, he was a reluctant captain. He was young and wanted to concentrate on his cricket. Now he’s matured and given Pakistan’s penchant for changing captains regularly, I’d say you should give it to him and move forward.”
Malik led Pakistan in three Tests but was unable to win any of them. Of the 36 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) he captained Pakistan in, they won 24, including a record 12 consecutive wins. Malik was also incharge of the team in the inaugural World Twenty20 where Pakistan agonisingly fell short of the target in the final against India.
“Malik did a good job as captain and at that time he was learning how to lead a side. He was taking the right steps in the right direction and if he’s named as Afridi’s successor, I don’t think it’ll be a step backwards by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).”
Lawson also showed apprehension in the board’s decision to name Butt, Afridi’s deputy, as the Test captain. Butt, who scored 63 and 92 in the first Test, was lauded by Afridi in the post-match press conference but Lawson wanted the PCB not to appoint the opener as captain for the sake of his career.
“Butt’s a good choice as vice-captain but he’s years away from being a captain. I would’ve let him concentrate on his batting because he’s probably the best batsman they have right now. He has captaincy potential but throwing him in at this stage will crucify him.”
LONDON: Former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson labelled out-of-favour former captain Shoaib Malik as the ideal and ‘obvious’ choice to lead the team instead of Salman Butt following Shahid Afridi’s decision to retire from Test cricket with immediate effect due to injury and ‘lack of Test temperament’.
Malik, who was omitted in favour of youth for the first Test at Lord’s, was first appointed captain in April 2007 following Pakistan’s first-round exit in the 50-over World Cup. However, after impressive results against minnows and poor show against potent opposition, Malik was eventually replaced by Younus Khan with his stained relationship with seniors deemed integral to his downfall.
Lawson, sacked as coach after only year-and-a-half into his two-year contract, reckoned that Malik was handed captaincy too early in the past and given that the current squad is full of youngsters, Pakistan has no choice but to rename Malik as captain.
“It might’ve been premature to name him captain then,” Lawson told The Express Tribune following Pakistan’s 150-run loss at Lord’s. “But three years on, he’s certainly capable of being captain again. To me, he’s the obvious choice. He’s well respected by the younger players and the seniors that had problems with him aren’t in the team.
“In 2007, he was a reluctant captain. He was young and wanted to concentrate on his cricket. Now he’s matured and given Pakistan’s penchant for changing captains regularly, I’d say you should give it to him and move forward.”
Malik led Pakistan in three Tests but was unable to win any of them. Of the 36 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) he captained Pakistan in, they won 24, including a record 12 consecutive wins. Malik was also incharge of the team in the inaugural World Twenty20 where Pakistan agonisingly fell short of the target in the final against India.
“Malik did a good job as captain and at that time he was learning how to lead a side. He was taking the right steps in the right direction and if he’s named as Afridi’s successor, I don’t think it’ll be a step backwards by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).”
Lawson also showed apprehension in the board’s decision to name Butt, Afridi’s deputy, as the Test captain. Butt, who scored 63 and 92 in the first Test, was lauded by Afridi in the post-match press conference but Lawson wanted the PCB not to appoint the opener as captain for the sake of his career.
“Butt’s a good choice as vice-captain but he’s years away from being a captain. I would’ve let him concentrate on his batting because he’s probably the best batsman they have right now. He has captaincy potential but throwing him in at this stage will crucify him.”
Malik dropped from first Test against Australia
Pakistan has dropped former captain Shoaib Malik from its playing eleven for the first Test against Australia starting Tuesday at Lord's after the experienced all-rounder skipped a few practice sessions to be with his wife Sania Mirza.
Sources in the Pakistan team management said the officials were irked by Malik's non-serious approach in the lead to what is an important Test series for the Pakistan.
It was decided by the team management that it would be better to field rookie all-rounder Azhar Ali in the playing line-up instead of Malik for the opening Test.
Sources in the Pakistan team management said the officials were irked by Malik's non-serious approach in the lead to what is an important Test series for the Pakistan.
It was decided by the team management that it would be better to field rookie all-rounder Azhar Ali in the playing line-up instead of Malik for the opening Test.
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