Shoaib Malik, the experienced all-rounder from Pakistan, has affirmed his willingness to rejoin the national team for T20I matches. However, he has made it clear that he has no intentions of making a comeback in the ODI or Test formats.
Discussing his departure from the Men in Green squad, Malik noted that he was excluded despite delivering strong performances. While he is open to participating in T20Is for Pakistan, he emphasized that he holds no particular expectations from either Babar Azam or the team management.
The 41-year-old expressed these sentiments during an interview with Pak TV. He stated, “When I was dropped from the Pakistan team, my performances and statistics were exceptionally good. I have retired from Tests and ODIs, and I have no intentions of returning in those capacities. Nonetheless, I am prepared to rejoin the T20 team if I receive a call. However, I harbor no anticipations from the captain, selectors, or the PCB. I have no expectations whatsoever from anyone. I am in good shape and will continue playing as long as I find enjoyment in the game.”
Shoaib Malik’s most recent appearance in a T20I match for Pakistan was in November 2021. Presently, he is competing for the Jaffna Kings in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL 2023). During the team’s recent encounter against Dambulla Aura at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday, August 7, Malik excelled with both the bat and ball.
He conceded a mere 13 runs during his complete allotment of four overs, securing two wickets. Moreover, the right-handed batter delivered an impressive innings, concluding unbeaten with a score of 74 during the chase. Regrettably, his efforts were in vain as his team suffered a narrow nine-run defeat.