Shoaib Malik pointlessly clinging on?

[Rana]

Now he will cry to the media about his non selection. He got out for 19 off 14 today against Club level bowlers from Northern as the main squad have all formed the bubble for Pakistan.

The man should have read the writing on the wall 2 years ago when Pakistan made it clear to him, Wahab and Amir that their time is up.

I have a lot of criticism for Misbah and Waqar, but they were right to make the brave call and discarding Malik indefinitely.

At most, Malik was a great utility player alongside batting stalwarts Inzimam, Yousuf and Younis Khan. He was never good enough to be the leader of the batsmen. Hafeez was the same but the man has benefited significantly due to modern batting tracks and batting approach in the last decade.

It is time for Malik to hang up his domestic career and focus on franchise cricket for a year or so, and then go for good.

 

[Rodsje]

Totally agree! And what Hafeez always had which saved him was his bowling otherwise he likewise malik should have left international cricket a couple of years ago.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Ive grown up left school got a degree got marrid bought a house travelled the world had kids, my younger siblings married with kids all while Shoaib has played for Pakistan.

He is the Queen Elizabeth of Pakistan cricket and while my own kids are still young I want Malik to hang around for another 2-3 years so their lives can also be touched by his presence on screen.

Part of me thinks that once he retires there will be a catastrophic world event, im not willing to take that risk however small it may be so I hope he continues for as long as possible.

 

[deep82]

If Ramiz sticks to his past words on his YT channel, I see end of road for many Pakistan veterans after WC. This includes Malik, Hafeez, Wahab, Sarfaraz, Azhar Ali, Abid Ali, Fawad (after WTC Cycle), Yasir and Nuaman ( after WTC Cycle), Iftikhar, Abbas, Sharjeel (Fixer), Amir (Fixer), Maqsood, Haris, Imran Khan, Zahid Mahmood, M Irfan, A Shehzad, U Akmal.

All these players ( mostly 35+ taking in consideration age fudging) have played for Pakistan in last 2 years which coincided with the tenure of Misbah & Waqar.

Ramiz has the personality to take on the seniority culture head on and clean up the system and bring in new blood.

All hail Rambo!!

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Yaar, ye common he amongs Asian Sub continentals.
MSD should have retired in 2015.
SRT should have retired in 2011
Mohinder Amarnath should have retired in 1985.
Kapil in 1990
VVS, Navjot sidhu....et al...u get the drift.

 

[Zaz]

Guess playing domestic t20s helps him stay relevant and in practice for his league cricket around the world

Its the domestic coaches we should be questioning Why are so many past it players like K Akmal, Malik S Tanvir etc still being entertained?

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Yaar, ye common he amongs Asian Sub continentals.
MSD should have retired in 2015.
SRT should have retired in 2011
Mohinder Amarnath should have retired in 1985.
Kapil in 1990
VVS, Navjot sidhu....et al...u get the drift.

I forgot....Yuvi, Harbie, Gambo, Viroo, zaheer, ashish.....

 

[deep82]

and he is back again!!

Sarfaraz, Hafeez and Malik in a T20 squad in 2021!

Absolute dearth of talent in the country.

 

[proud_pakistani]

I really question the loyalty of players like Malik to the country. He can look easily at his own scores over the last 5 years and can tell maybe im not good enough let some younger players come. In this day and age you can easily play franchise cricket and earn money why do you need to be part of the National set up. Bravo to him tho as always he has great PR skills. If you look at twitter and some pundits like Shoaib Akhtar you would think it is Inzi or Saeed Anwar being selected.

 

[Savak]

and he is back again!!

Sarfaraz, Hafeez and Malik in a T20 squad in 2021!

Absolute dearth of talent in the country.

More media and ex players pressure than anything. These players have loyal backers in society

 

[UzmanBeast]

and he is back again!!

Sarfaraz, Hafeez and Malik in a T20 squad in 2021!

Absolute dearth of talent in the country.

Middle-order batting will remain a problem for a while.

When Malik and Hafeez are the two best middle-order batsmen you've got after 2 decades, your system is failing.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Its baffling how him and Hafeez are still playing. Its nuts.

 

[JattMaula]

Play Eminem's 'Without Me'.

 

[shaz619]

Now he will cry to the media about his non selection. He got out for 19 off 14 today against Club level bowlers from Northern as the main squad have all formed the bubble for Pakistan.

The man should have read the writing on the wall 2 years ago when Pakistan made it clear to him, Wahab and Amir that their time is up.

I have a lot of criticism for Misbah and Waqar, but they were right to make the brave call and discarding Malik indefinitely.

At most, Malik was a great utility player alongside batting stalwarts Inzimam, Yousuf and Younis Khan. He was never good enough to be the leader of the batsmen. Hafeez was the same but the man has benefited significantly due to modern batting tracks and batting approach in the last decade.

It is time for Malik to hang up his domestic career and focus on franchise cricket for a year or so, and then go for good.

Ive grown up left school got a degree got marrid bought a house travelled the world had kids, my younger siblings married with kids all while Shoaib has played for Pakistan.

He is the Queen Elizabeth of Pakistan cricket and while my own kids are still young I want Malik to hang around for another 2-3 years so their lives can also be touched by his presence on screen.

Part of me thinks that once he retires there will be a catastrophic world event, im not willing to take that risk however small it may be so I hope he continues for as long as possible.

More media and ex players pressure than anything. These players have loyal backers in society

Not sure why people are so upset, considering how crap Pakistan is these days; he may just make Pakistan’s top 3 best possible bats really. Kushdils, Maqsoods, Asif Ali’s are all rubbish. Sad state.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

I really question the loyalty of players like Malik to the country. He can look easily at his own scores over the last 5 years and can tell maybe im not good enough let some younger players come. In this day and age you can easily play franchise cricket and earn money why do you need to be part of the National set up. Bravo to him tho as always he has great PR skills. If you look at twitter and some pundits like Shoaib Akhtar you would think it is Inzi or Saeed Anwar being selected.

You need PR in this day and age to be successful in any field not just cricket. I have resigned from jobs because of my manager favoring "chaploos" type people and recommending them for promotions. Malik is a clever guy. He knows how to butter right people at the right time.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Now he will cry to the media about his non selection. He got out for 19 off 14 today against Club level bowlers from Northern as the main squad have all formed the bubble for Pakistan.

The man should have read the writing on the wall 2 years ago when Pakistan made it clear to him, Wahab and Amir that their time is up.

I have a lot of criticism for Misbah and Waqar, but they were right to make the brave call and discarding Malik indefinitely.

At most, Malik was a great utility player alongside batting stalwarts Inzimam, Yousuf and Younis Khan. He was never good enough to be the leader of the batsmen. Hafeez was the same but the man has benefited significantly due to modern batting tracks and batting approach in the last decade.

It is time for Malik to hang up his domestic career and focus on franchise cricket for a year or so, and then go for good.

Congratulations!!! your jinx worked. Pakistan adds more experience in their squad. Team looks even stronger now.

 

[Savak]

Malik knows how things work in Pakistan. He always has a smirk smile on his face knowing full well that his loyal backers will not let him down till the end. We needed a CS who had the balls to deal with media, social media, ex cricketers, fan pressure and Mohd Wasim in the end showed no teeth. This will be his final assignment

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Can you blame Malik or Hafeez?

There is not even one middle order batsman in our domestic set up that could perform consistently in international cricket. Who hasn't Misbah given a chance since 2019? We have tried everyone.

Malik and Hafeez know that the PCB can't do without them. That is why Hafeez knows he has a chance to play the 50 overs World Cup in 2023. He has told this to Shoaib Jutt.

 

[Rana]

The biggest joke ever. A complete slap on the face of MisQar management and in fact a slap on the face of all Pakistan.

It’s like there is no hope without a guy who debuted in 1999. Really is a sad day, now Malik might as well cling on to play the 2023 World Cup in India because we need middle order batsmen who can play spin!

 

[Titan24]

Issue is Pak management had 5 years since the last world T20 to develop middle order players and they were unable to do so due to one reason or another.

What they did was that rather than sticking to 2-3 players to develop them they tried almost every middle order batsman from domestic cricket and in the end developing none. So when the unfortunate injury to Sohaib came, they decided to rely on experience of Malik as everyone else from long list of middle order players who were tried are yet to play even 30 T20Is.

This is the result of lack of proper development of players by not giving them longer runs.

So in isolation I can’t criticize the decision however, the whole planning for the world T20 middle order over the years is really questionable and this isnt even the first time leading upto the tournaments.

 

[Rana]

Why did Abdul Razzaq retire? They both emerged around the same time!

 

[TeymurBlake]

The bigger issue was that they were decent options available such as Ifti, Aamir Yamin or potentially playing at No.3 Abdullah Shafique.

 

[cricketerB94]

The bigger issue was that they were decent options available such as Ifti, Aamir Yamin or potentially playing at No.3 Abdullah Shafique.

The difference is that Malik got the captain's vote.

 

[Usman]

For all of Malik’s shortcomings, I still think he is one of the best t20 players in the country. When Maqsood couldn’t make the squad, it was a toss up between him, uncle Ifti (who is older than Malik himself) and Sharjeel. There were no other options.

Personally I would have gone for Sharjeel but then had the selectors done that, Sharjeel wouldn’t have played because the management see him as an opener only, and we already have Rizwaan, Barbar and Fakhar ahead of him. So then Asif Ali would have played in the middle order and that man is the most hopeless bat I have ever seen in my life. So it’s better Malik is added to the squad so that at least he will actually play instead of Asif Ali.

Some people are impressed with uncle Ifti in the National T20 and, although I cannot fault his form, I also know that in international cricket he has been a total failure. Malik, for all his flaws, has been there, done it and got the t-shirt. He might actually be what this team needs right now.

 

[globalcitizen]

Why no one talks about hafeez inclusion, he will turn 41 by time world cup starts, and his fitness and form is an issue!!!

 

[IMMY69]

For all of Malik’s shortcomings, I still think he is one of the best t20 players in the country. When Maqsood couldn’t make the squad, it was a toss up between him, uncle Ifti (who is older than Malik himself) and Sharjeel. There were no other options.

Personally I would have gone for Sharjeel but then had the selectors done that, Sharjeel wouldn’t have played because the management see him as an opener only, and we already have Rizwaan, Barbar and Fakhar ahead of him. So then Asif Ali would have played in the middle order and that man is the most hopeless bat I have ever seen in my life. So it’s better Malik is added to the squad so that at least he will actually play instead of Asif Ali.

Some people are impressed with uncle Ifti in the National T20 and, although I cannot fault his form, I also know that in international cricket he has been a total failure. Malik, for all his flaws, has been there, done it and got the t-shirt. He might actually be what this team needs right now.

Mark Ramprakash was a prolific domestic batsman but it didn't the the ECB 22 years to realise that he was useless at international level

 

[IMMY69]

Why no one talks about hafeez inclusion, he will turn 41 by time world cup starts, and his fitness and form is an issue!!!

Only because unlike Malik, Hafeez actually has some runs in international T20's.

Ideally both should be retired by now

 

[Usman]

Mark Ramprakash was a prolific domestic batsman but it didn't the the ECB 22 years to realise that he was useless at international level

Nobody’s saying Malik is an amazing choice, but the point is that in the circumstances, he is a sensible choice who, unlike Asif Ali, Kushdil Shah or Azam Khan, may well win you a game or two.

If Malik’s selection was keeping out some sensational talent from the team, then you’d have a point. In reality, Malik is keeping out uncle Ifti who, for all his domestic t20 bashing, has never looked comfortable on the international stage (not to mention he looks older than even Malik) and Sharjeel who, in my opinion, should be selected BUT who would never play if he was selected because he wouldn’t be able to dislodge one of the openers from their spot. So Sharjeel’s selection would lead to Asif Ali playing in the final XI.

When you take all of the above into account, it’s clear that Malik’s selection is a good choice.

 

[IMMY69]

Nobody’s saying Malik is an amazing choice, but the point is that in the circumstances, he is a sensible choice who, unlike Asif Ali, Kushdil Shah or Azam Khan, may well win you a game or two.

If Malik’s selection was keeping out some sensational talent from the team, then you’d have a point. In reality, Malik is keeping out uncle Ifti who, for all his domestic t20 bashing, has never looked comfortable on the international stage (not to mention he looks older than even Malik) and Sharjeel who, in my opinion, should be selected BUT who would never play if he was selected because he wouldn’t be able to dislodge one of the openers from their spot. So Sharjeel’s selection would lead to Asif Ali playing in the final XI.

When you take all of the above into account, it’s clear that Malik’s selection is a good choice.

Forget alternatives.
Picking anyone, literally anyone who is fit and can field would be a step forward then going with an Old Malik who has continuously failed in international cricket.

There is absolutely zero logic in picking a 40 odd year old who can barely score in international cricket, these days even against spin.
It makes us a laughing stock and is a slap in the face of anyone looking to break into the national side but at the same time sets the bar extremely low.

 

[Bewal Express]

This is selection to keep Babar happy because Babar feels more comfortable with these baway. Now that he has been picked let's hope actually does something.

 

[sweep_shot]

It should be his last global tournament. Pakistan should move on from him after this.

 

[Usman]

Forget alternatives.
Picking anyone, literally anyone who is fit and can field would be a step forward then going with an Old Malik who has continuously failed in international cricket.

There is absolutely zero logic in picking a 40 odd year old who can barely score in international cricket, these days even against spin.
It makes us a laughing stock and is a slap in the face of anyone looking to break into the national side but at the same time sets the bar extremely low.

Rather than making vauge statements about “anyone” being a better option, can you actually name any other person who hasn’t been selected and whose selection would not have equally large question marks on it? The only contenders were Malik, Sharjeel and Ifti and I have already explained the logic behind not selecting the other two. If you have someone better in your mind that the rest of us haven’t seen, please do share it with us.

 

[IMMY69]

Rather than making vauge statements about “anyone” being a better option, can you actually name any other person who hasn’t been selected and whose selection would not have equally large question marks on it? The only contenders were Malik, Sharjeel and Ifti and I have already explained the logic behind not selecting the other two. If you have someone better in your mind that the rest of us haven’t seen, please do share it with us.

Literally any 20-25 year old who is a decent fielder.

This should not even be a debate.

It's a match up between an old proven international failure vs a young partly proven international failure.
Go with the young one. Simple

 

[unemployedgm]

Rather than making vauge statements about “anyone” being a better option, can you actually name any other person who hasn’t been selected and whose selection would not have equally large question marks on it? The only contenders were Malik, Sharjeel and Ifti and I have already explained the logic behind not selecting the other two. If you have someone better in your mind that the rest of us haven’t seen, please do share it with us.

Every 2 years we have this same conversation.

 

[Shaka81]

Pakistan were always going to get humiliated in the World T20. The only difference is that they'll now be humiliated with a team of pensioners and ignore any future planning.
I wonder what they'll do when Hafeez and Malik finally retire at the age of fifty. Do they expect young players to magically appear and gain experience?!

 

[Zaz]

It should be his last global tournament. Pakistan should move on from him after this.

Weve been saying this for years and he keeps coming back to fail once again

 

[Zaz]

Pakistan were always going to get humiliated in the World T20. The only difference is that they'll now be humiliated with a team of pensioners and ignore any future planning.
I wonder what they'll do when Hafeez and Malik finally retire at the age of fifty. Do they expect young players to magically appear and gain experience?!

Exactly How are we going to find players when they dont get enough backing and chances to get a foothold in the team Domestic players work hard to get a lookin in the big tourneys and we short change them and waste all their hard work by picking past it players who shouldve been on the scrap heap years ago

By doing this its always one step forward two steps back with prospective players Knocking their confidence and telling them theirs one rule for them and another for others

Guys like malik have robbed generations of a chance and a career and they are still at it Nobody comes into the team resdy made They require backing, patience and intnl experience And a plan for the future Instead we get this abysmal shortsightedness Its a disgrace that in the year 2021 we are still going in with these 2 avge players whove failed repeatedly on the big stage

The pakistani selectorial system is corrupt and a disgrace

 

[Usman Chadda]

Literally any 20-25 year old who is a decent fielder.

This should not even be a debate.

It's a match up between an old proven international failure vs a young partly proven international failure.
Go with the young one. Simple

Khushdil Shah and Azam Khan are those 20-25 year olds, do they inspire confidence any in you?

I was disappointed by this decision yesterday, but the fact is that we don’t have any talent coming through capable of playing in a WC. Malik would be useless in SENA, but on UAE tracks he is a decent replacement for Maqsood. Only one who can MAYBE feel hard done by is his CP team-mate Hussain Talat. I don’t know why people are harping on Ifti chacha, when he is even more useless than Malik at international level.

 

[IMMY69]

Khushdil Shah and Azam Khan are those 20-25 year olds, do they inspire confidence any in you?

I was disappointed by this decision yesterday, but the fact is that we don’t have any talent coming through capable of playing in a WC. Malik would be useless in SENA, but on UAE tracks he is a decent replacement for Maqsood. Only one who can MAYBE feel hard done by is his CP team-mate Hussain Talat. I don’t know why people are harping on Ifti chacha, when he is even more useless than Malik at international level.

Actually I have a lot of time for Hussein Talat.
He was initially picked for the wrong format.. I think he can be useful in ODI's and his technique will hold up for test cricket...

I would 100pct have Talat over Malik.

Azam Khan us too much of a liability in the field.
So other then Khushdil and Azam, just pick anyone half decent in the field.

It's not even so much about Malik failing or doing well, it's for progressions sake.
We continuously pick non performing oldies in important tournaments which is holding back our international cricket team

 

[Usman Chadda]

Actually I have a lot of time for Hussein Talat.
He was initially picked for the wrong format.. I think he can be useful in ODI's and his technique will hold up for test cricket...

I would 100pct have Talat over Malik.

Azam Khan us too much of a liability in the field.
So other then Khushdil and Azam, just pick anyone half decent in the field.

It's not even so much about Malik failing or doing well, it's for progressions sake.
We continuously pick non performing oldies in important tournaments which is holding back our international cricket team

We shouldn’t have these oldies coming back into the team, if the younger players who get chances do showcase half-decent ability to perform at international level.

Malik will always get the nod on the basis of experience, when these lads keep failing time and again and look absolute nobodies at international level. Same way Sarfraz got selected, when he is way past it. The likes of Rohail Nazir, Muhammad Haris etc dont look like they can hold a bat against world-class bowlers.

It’s a really sad state of affairs at the moment. Even Maqsood making a comeback at his age is disappointing to say the least.

 

[Zaz]

We shouldn’t have these oldies coming back into the team, if the younger players who get chances do showcase half-decent ability to perform at international level.

Malik will always get the nod on the basis of experience, when these lads keep failing time and again and look absolute nobodies at international level. Same way Sarfraz got selected, when he is way past it. The likes of Rohail Nazir, Muhammad Haris etc dont look like they can hold a bat against world-class bowlers.

It’s a really sad state of affairs at the moment. Even Maqsood making a comeback at his age is disappointing to say the least.

How many matches has ifti, talat and farhan etc had?

Lets be honest theyve hardly been given a fair crack In one or two series out the other

Ifti still avges 40 in t20s despite limited chances

If malik was a inzamam quality id say fair enough His experience is useless tho when hes not good enough

This guy has had a medicore career for 20 yrs and still keeps coming back as a batsman We saw it in 2019 world cup what good his experience did for the tean Its a sad state of affairs this

 

[Usman]

Literally any 20-25 year old who is a decent fielder.

This should not even be a debate.

It's a match up between an old proven international failure vs a young partly proven international failure.
Go with the young one. Simple

I’m sorry but this is just nonsense. Malik is not the best and nobody would disagree with you there. But to suggest that he has literally zero value is a bit much.

The time to “find” talent is over. The T20 World Cup is not the place to experiment by giving random youngsters a debut. That should have been done in the build up and to be honest, the management has tried quite a few names. None have worked and in fact, our t20 side has just slid from the best in the world to distinctly mediocre as a result.

If there was a half decent (and note I’m not even saying fully decent) youngster out there who hadn’t been picked, I’d be with you every day of the week. There isn’t and we need to deal with it.

In the circumstances, picking Malik who may well contribute some winning runs, and who is himself a decent fielder despite his age, is a good choice. Your suggestion of picking just about anyone, with that person almost guaranteed to fail, is ridiculous.

Every 2 years we have this same conversation.

We do but that is in large part down to the failure of our youngsters to grab the opportunities given to them. Only Haider Ali has done so in recent times. Shoaib Maqsood showed a little promise, but nothing to write home about. Nobody else has done a thing of note.

 

[IMMY69]

I’m sorry but this is just nonsense. Malik is not the best and nobody would disagree with you there. But to suggest that he has literally zero value is a bit much.

The time to “find” talent is over. The T20 World Cup is not the place to experiment by giving random youngsters a debut. That should have been done in the build up and to be honest, the management has tried quite a few names. None have worked and in fact, our t20 side has just slid from the best in the world to distinctly mediocre as a result.

If there was a half decent (and note I’m not even saying fully decent) youngster out there who hadn’t been picked, I’d be with you every day of the week. There isn’t and we need to deal with it.

In the circumstances, picking Malik who may well contribute some winning runs, and who is himself a decent fielder despite his age, is a good choice. Your suggestion of picking just about anyone, with that person almost guaranteed to fail, is ridiculous.



We do but that is in large part down to the failure of our youngsters to grab the opportunities given to them. Only Haider Ali has done so in recent times. Shoaib Maqsood showed a little promise, but nothing to write home about. Nobody else has done a thing of note.

You make some good points but you're overlooking something very important.

Malik is on par or even worse then any of the youngsters picked in the last 4-6 years.
Even Shadab has performed better with the bat so will shadab bat higher then Malik? What about Imad? Let's go one further, does Hasan Ali bat higher then Malik? Does Malik come in as a 49 year old number 8?

Abdullah, Asif, Haider have all done better then Malik

If Malik was scoring runs in international cricket then there may have been a very small car to make.

 

[PakLFC]

Pointlessly? He's making money!