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Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik has said that he is still not done with T20I cricket and is still hopeful of making a comeback into the Pakistan side. Malik who is soon to be a 41-year-old claims that he is still fit and can match the fitness levels of 25-year-olds of the team.
Currently playing in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2023, Malik is representing Rangpur Riders and is one of the top-scorers for the franchise. On the sidelines, Malik said that he is still hungry for runs.
"Trust me, even though I'm the oldest in the team, you can compare my fitness with a 25-year old. So, I guess what motivates me is I still enjoy coming to the ground and I still think that the hunger is there and until the time these two things are there, I'm gonna keep playing cricket and this is why I am not even thinking of retiring," Malik told reporters.
The all-rounder has retired from Tests and ODIs but is hopeful of getting one more opportunity despite getting dropped from the T20I squad after Pakistan’s exit from T20 World Cup 2021.
"I would like to retire from internationals and complete cricket once and for all but right now I'm not even thinking about it and I am enjoying my cricket whenever I get an opportunity I do go and play. I have already retired from Tests and ODIs and T20s yes I'm still very much available and wherever I get my opportunity I will give my best shot," the Sialkot-born cricketer said.
Malik squashed claims that the recent change in leadership of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has anything to do with his hopefulness.
"I'm a cricketer and seen enough in my life now and these things don't bother me and I guess as an athlete it is a message for all athletes that when you are playing a team game don't think who is in your favour and who is not in your favour," Malik clarified.
Malik was a member of Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2009-winning squad admits that the T20 cricket has evolved over the years and said that he wants to stay one step ahead of the game. He revealed that he has been working on his bowling as well and developed a few varieties.
"Well when T20 started, I guess 130/140 runs were enough and today even 220/230 runs are not enough when you are playing on a good track. So I guess the revolution has been there and it changed a lot since T20 got started and I guess as a cricketer it is your responsibility to stay a step ahead so you can compete at a higher level and be consistent at your own game," he said.
"What I have been doing and I have been trying is to stay a step ahead so that I can meet the requirement where ever I go and play. I've been working on a couple of different varieties in my bowling. The minute a spinner comes in and bowls, every batter starts coming after that offie so I need work on some variations and I've been working on that."
So far, Malik has scored 231 runs from eight innings in BPL 2023 at an average of 38.50 including two half-centuries. Riders are currently placed fourth on the points table with five wins from eight encounters.
