He also called for more clarity in selection process in Pakistan.
Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik is still optimistic about his chances of playing in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in India in October-November despite being out of the national side for more than one year.
Malik last represented Pakistan in a T20I series in England last year and since then, he has been overlooking for the national selection and the all-rounder insisted that he can’t understand why he was dropped from the team despite he was fit and performing for the side.
Citing the example of another veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, former Pakistan captain has pointed out how it is helpful for the team to have senior players around them, as Shoaib felt he should be in the team given his fitness and performance.
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He also highlighted that Pakistan has been struggling to find a suitable batsman at No.5 and he is available to bat at that spot in the T20 World Cup 2021 later this year.
Malik told cricketpakistan.com.pk: “I still believe that I can be useful in the T20 format. I’m not thinking that I won’t play the T20 World Cup, I’m still hopeful about featuring in the World Cup and giving my all.
I have always performed to the best of my ability for my teammates and my team but I don’t like to create a fuss. I just stick to one direction and give it my best shot. Whenever a young captain, young player, and management have needed me, I have always been available.”
He further noted, “I don’t understand why I was dropped from the team. I don’t want to drag this issue out. It doesn’t matter how old you are. You should meet the team’s criteria in terms of performance, fitness. Most importantly, as a senior player, if you keep the environment of the dressing room healthy and respect your management and young players, then nothing else matters.
Hafeez is performing very well for the team and I have seen him guide the new players. If a senior player like him is in your team, it gives confidence to the team management and the players.”
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The all-rounder has also opened up about his discussions with the current Pakistan chief selector Mohammad Wasim while calling for more clarity in the selection process in the team.
Malik said, “I had a discussion with him twice. In our first chat, I had a very open discussion with him, in which he said that I should play in the top four in the batting order. I agreed that this would suit my game.
There is no doubt that I have played and performed while batting at number five with a good strike rate. At that time, Pakistan had around 14 T20s left before the T20 World Cup, so he said they will try some other players in half of them and then see the team combination.”
He signed off by saying, “Then recently I had another discussion with him, in which I said to him that Pakistan team is currently struggling to find a suitable batsman at number five and I am available to bat at that number, to which he agreed and said that they are also thinking along the same lines.
Now let’s see what happens, but it was a very good discussion and in a good environment. In our two discussions so far, he never said that I am not in their plans.”