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Shoaib Malik has broken his silence on the match-fixing rumours which took the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 by storm on January 26. Apparently Shoaib Malik has opted out of the remaining games in the ongoing BPL season. However, his withdrawal from the league is not connected to the recent speculations of his alleged involvement in match-fixing controversies.
Malik was part of the Fortune Barishal team in the ongoing T20 league in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi media reports suggested that Malik's contract might have been at risk of being terminated by the franchise following match-fixing allegations during a game against the Khulna Riders.
The 41-year-old became a topic of discussion for delivering three no-balls in a single over against the Khulna Tigers. In this over, he gave away 18 runs, which included two fours and a six. Regrettably, Fortune Barishal ended up losing the match to the Tigers by eight wickets.
Shoaib Malik rubbished match-fixing rumours
Addressing the swirling social media rumors about his contract termination due to match-fixing suspicions, Malik released a statement. He clarified that his departure from Bangladesh was due to previously arranged media commitments in Dubai.
“I would like to address and dismiss the recent rumors circulating about my playing position with Fortune Barishal. I had a thorough discussion with our captain, Tamim Iqbal, and we mutually planned the way forward. I had to leave Bangladesh for a pre-committed media engagement in Dubai,” Malik wrote.
Malik will be absent from the upcoming BPL matches for personal reasons. Ahmed Shehzad, a Pakistani batsman, has been announced as his replacement on the Fortune Barishal team for the remainder of the BPL 2024 season.
Malik extended his best wishes to the Fortune Barishal team for their future games. He also emphasised the importance of verifying facts before disseminating them and highlighted the need to depend on reliable sources for authentic information.
“I extend my best wishes to Fortune Barishal for their upcoming matches, and if needed, I am available to support them if needs be. I have always found joy in playing the game and will continue to do so.”
“I want to emphasize the importance of exercising caution when it comes to rumors, especially those circulating recently. I want to make it clear that I strongly refute these baseless rumors. It’s crucial for everyone to verify information before believing and spreading it. Falsehoods can harm reputations and create unnecessary confusion. Let’s prioritize accuracy and rely on credible sources to ensure a clear understanding of the facts. Thank you for your understanding and diligence. Thank you for your love & support as always.”
The seasoned all-rounder created a record of becoming the first Asian and the second player overall to surpass the 13,000-run mark in T20 cricket. He reached this landmark during a BPL game against the Rangpur Riders, joining Chris Gayle as the only other cricketer to achieve this distinction.
Malik has an impressive track record representing Pakistan, having played in 35 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 124 T20Is. His respective run tallies in these formats are 1898, 7534, and 2435. Additionally, he has been effective with his bowling, claiming over 200 wickets in various formats. His last appearance for Pakistan in a T20I was in November 2021.
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