Pakistan veteran Shoaib Malik on Friday (February 14) confirmed that he'll be finally taking a call on his retirement close to the T20 World Cup in Australia in October this year.
The 38-year-old, who made his international debut in 1999 and remains the sole active cricketer from the 90s, bid farewell to Test cricket in 2016 and ODIs last year after Pakistan's unsuccessful World Cup campaign in UK.
Malik has turned up in only T20Is for Pakistan after that as he wishes to end his career on a happy note by helping his country win the big event down under.
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"The World Cup is still far off and I think right now my focus is on the Pakistan Super League and coming matches for Pakistan. When I get closer to the World Cup I will see what to do," Malik told reporters.
"I will have to see my fitness and position in the national side closer to the World Cup than I will take a decision on final retirement."
With the decline in his performances, Malik has faced severe criticism from the media in Pakistan. But the man has never taken that to heart. "One becomes used to it," he said. "I don't take it to heart. As I am not an insecure person and I have achieved a lot in life. For me even now to play for Pakistan is the biggest honour and perform as well as a senior professional."
"As far as my being dropped after the World Cup is concerned as a professional cricketer I have seen lot of ups and downs in life and I took it in my stride," Malik added.
Malik also believes that Pakistani selectors shouldn't pick cricketers on the basis of just one or two performances in the Pakistan Super League.
"PSL is important for us as it is seen internationally and followed widely by the people and covered extensively by the media. But I would still emphasise don't select anyone or one or two matches. Criteria should be strong to pick a player for Pakistan," he said.
"I would say if a player gives some good performances make him play at least two or three seasons and let him perform consistency in them before considering him for selection."
(Inputs from PTI)
