{"id":10151,"date":"2014-06-30T10:34:27","date_gmt":"2014-06-30T10:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tat.reddaisytrading.co.uk\/index.php\/2014\/06\/30\/shoaib-malik\/"},"modified":"2014-06-30T10:34:27","modified_gmt":"2014-06-30T10:34:27","slug":"shoaib-malik","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/2014\/06\/30\/shoaib-malik\/","title":{"rendered":"Shoaib Malik:"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Right now I\u2019m not enjoying playing for Pakistan”<\/h3>\n
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Shoaib Malik has represented Pakistan on more than 300 occasions across all formats and in this time he has accumulated over 8,000 runs as well as picking up 178 international scalps for Pakistan. The all-rounder last represented Pakistan in their unsuccessful 2014 World T20 campaign where he finished the tournament with a disappointing 52 runs at an average of just over 17.<\/em><\/p>\n

Speaking exclusively with PakPassion.net,<\/strong> the 32 year old all-rounder reflected on his current stint with the Birmingham Bears, his mixed feelings at missing out on a central contract, his initial reaction to Mohammad Hafeez’s comments regarding his selection for the World T20, the issue of Pakistan’s captaincy and his possible return to the Pakistan team in the near future.<\/span> <\/em><\/font><\/span><\/div>\n

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PakPassion.net: You\u2019re back playing county cricket, this time with Warwickshire. How do you feel things are going at Warwickshire for you?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> I feel it\u2019s going well, we\u2019ve won most of our matches and I\u2019ve been in good form. The feedback I\u2019ve had from my team mates and the team management has been awesome and I\u2019m very appreciative of the support I\u2019ve had from everyone at Warwickshire. I\u2019m giving 100% to the team\u2019s cause and I\u2019ve really been enjoying my cricket.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Before you came to England this season, what aims and targets had you set yourself at Warwickshire?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> I\u2019m here for seven matches and my aim was to try and help Warwickshire win as many of those matches as possible. Before I joined up with Warwickshire I\u2019d set myself the goal of helping them get through to Finals Day.<\/p>\n


\nDespite playing cricket around the world I feel that you are always learning as a cricketer. Conditions in England are tough for Asian cricketers and I think coming to England and playing County cricket is beneficial to all overseas cricketers.<\/p>\n


\nI played County cricket back in 2004\/2005 and really enjoyed the experience and I was supposed to play for Lancashire in 2010 but due to international commitments I couldn\u2019t play for them. I\u2019d always said to myself that I\u2019d love to go back to England and feature in County cricket and when this opportunity came up I jumped at the chance. I\u2019d like to take this opportunity to thank Warwickshire for this opportunity to play for them.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: You\u2019ve mentioned that you are here for seven matches, but is there a chance that despite your Caribbean Premier League commitments you could come back and appear for Warwickshire in the later stages of the T20 Blast if they qualify?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> At the moment I\u2019m just focussing on the seven matches that I have signed for. I\u2019d love to come back and play for Warwickshire and I hope they can reach Final\u2019s day. Let\u2019s see how it goes and hopefully we can reach a mutual understanding regarding the later stages of the T20 Blast.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: How do you feel about being omitted from the central contracts list by the PCB?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> It\u2019s disappointing but there are also positives about not being included in the list of centrally contracted players as I can then get NOCs easily from the cricket Board to play around the world instead of having to attend various camps and then being in and out of the side. Naturally wherever I get the opportunity to play cricket I will want to play. In a way it\u2019s good that I\u2019ve not been given a central contract.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: What are your thoughts on Pakistani contracted players being asked to miss the Caribbean Premier League?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> If there is no international series then contracted players should be allowed to participate in tournaments around the world and they shouldn\u2019t be held back. Playing cricket wherever it is in the world is the best way to learn. Whether you have played cricket for 15 years or twenty years you will always benefit from playing around the world.<\/p>\n


\nI would urge the Pakistan Cricket Board to allow more Pakistani cricketers to take part in leagues around the world. Look at Junaid Khan and Saeed Ajmal this season, they are performing brilliantly in England. Pakistani players should be encouraged to play in various international leagues. What you learn from playing cricket around the world is totally different to taking part in a camp. When a series starts that\u2019s fine recall your contracted players, but making them miss international tournaments for the sake of a training camp doesn\u2019t make sense.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Why do you think you didn\u2019t receive a central contract this time around?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> If the Pakistan Cricket Board wants to see improvements in Pakistani cricketing affairs, then they need to be consistent in the way they handle all matters. Whoever is at the helm of Pakistan cricket, whoever is running Pakistan cricket needs to be consistent in his dealings and also the people above the Chairman, the politicians need to ensure there is consistency when choosing people to run Pakistan cricket, including the Chairman, management and players. We are really lacking in consistency in Pakistan cricket.<\/p>\n


\nThe Pakistani players don\u2019t know if they will be playing the next match let alone the next series as there is no consistency in selection and this is where we are light years behind other countries.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: You\u2019ve obviously got connections with India and I\u2019m sure you would dearly like another opportunity to play in the Indian Premier League in future?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> Absolutely. As a Pakistani you can have dual nationality, but as an Indian you cannot. If that was the case then I would have been playing in the IPL, but that\u2019s part of life. Also there are other leagues around the world, the IPL isn\u2019t the only T20 league out there but the attraction of the IPL is bigger for Pakistanis as we speak the same language and eat the same food. In India, the Pakistani cricketers are second in terms of popularity after the local heroes. We Pakistani cricketers are missing the IPL and we hope that one day we\u2019ll be allowed to take part in that tournament.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Mohammad Hafeez recently stated that he was told that you were in the Pakistan World T20 squad irrespective of his opinions. What are your thoughts on Hafeez\u2019s comment about your selection?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> I was shocked when I heard Hafeez had said what he did about my selection for the World T20. I could respond to his statement but it won\u2019t change anything. If I respond then there is no difference between me and Hafeez, but he and I both know exactly what happened and we know what the actual truth is.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Well this is an opportunity for you to set the record straight about your selection at the World T20?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> I will respond to Hafeez at the right time. I\u2019m here at Warwickshire focussing on playing for them and now is not the right time to respond to Hafeez, but what I will say is that at the moment I\u2019m actually happy to be away from Pakistan cricket for the time being, because if I get chances at major tournaments and don\u2019t do well in a couple of matches, then all the criticism is heaped onto me and I\u2019m blamed for every loss.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Do you feel you have been utilised properly in recent times in international cricket?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> Next time I get the opportunity to play for Pakistan I will first ask for some clarity beforehand. For example why am I not being used as a bowler, why am I not getting a chance to bowl for Pakistan when over here at Warwickshire I\u2019m bowling regularly and taking wickets. Wherever I play cricket I get the opportunity to bowl apart from when I am playing for Pakistan.<\/p>\n


\nI\u2019ve always wanted to play and still want to play as an all rounder for Pakistan. I\u2019m one of the most senior cricketers in the Pakistan team but I don\u2019t know where I\u2019m going to be batting in the next match and that is ridiculous. I don\u2019t wish to make excuses, but I know what\u2019s been happening when I\u2019ve been in Pakistan squads and those people who are doing all these things to me in Pakistan cricket know what\u2019s been happening.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Your critics point at your international record and say that you have underachieved. What do you say to those critics in response? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> I disagree as I feel for the early part of my career I performed well, but I do admit that after 2009\/2010 I\u2019ve not done as well as I should have. I know who is constantly criticising me within Pakistan cricket and what their agendas are. I\u2019ve told those people and also the PCB that don\u2019t worry I don\u2019t want the captaincy so don\u2019t be scared.<\/p>\n


\nI\u2019ve been sent in at number seven or eight in a Twenty20 match with a few overs left, what am I supposed to do then, what do they expect of me, do they expect me to go and score a fifty!<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Your captaincy stint ended in controversy and must have left a bitter taste in your mouth?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> The issue was that there were ego problems and some team mates did not want me to succeed as captain. It wasn\u2019t just team mates who didn\u2019t want me to succeed but also some other people involved in Pakistan cricket who had influence and wanted me to fail. It\u2019s a tough job even with the support of team mates and even tougher, when you don\u2019t have everyone backing you.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Why can\u2019t Pakistan cricket succeed with a young captain who leads the team for five to 10 years as South Africa did by appointing Graeme Smith when he was just 22 years old?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> Because of the same ego problems that I mentioned in the previous answer. There are some players as there were in the past who do not like to see some of their team mates do well. Those same players want to be superstars themselves but don\u2019t want others to become superstars and that\u2019s why we are lacking and why we aren\u2019t producing players who are world class.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: What are your thoughts on the Pakistani captaincy in the future particularly when Misbah-ul-Haq retires?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> The PCB should be speaking with Misbah-ul-Haq about his plans for the future and ask him how long he wishes to carry on in international cricket. There has to be some clarity and dialogue between the Board and Misbah on his future as only then can a successor be groomed.<\/p>\n


\nAs I mentioned before there has to be consistency in the selection of captains and the approach in selecting a captain irrespective of whether that captain is an inexperienced player or an experienced cricketer. Also the captain has to be given a decent amount of time to impose himself and his ideas on his players. Give the captain two or three years at least and give him clear goals and targets so there is no ambiguity and ill feeling if that captain has to be replaced at the end of those two to three years.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: If the Pakistan Cricket Board in future asked you to lead the Pakistan side, would you accept the challenge again?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> If they asked me before the 2015 World Cup then I wouldn\u2019t be able to do it. If the Board asked me after the 2015 World Cup and the offer came with clarity about my role and the appropriate support then I would think about it.<\/p>\n


\nI feel I\u2019m the sort of captain who can produce good players without being selfish. I\u2019ve never been selfish and have always put the team ahead of individual aims.<\/p>\n

PakPassion.net: Is that desire and hunger still in you to play for Pakistan or have you had enough of international cricket?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shoaib Malik:<\/strong> I appreciate that fans are thinking that I am playing the twenty over format more than any other format. But if I am not getting the opportunities to play in Test cricket or one day internationals then that just leaves T20s for me. I\u2019m keen to participate in T20 leagues around the world but I still want to play all three formats for Pakistan.<\/p>\n


\nI\u2019m fit enough, the desire is still there, the hunger is there to play for Pakistan and I feel that from 30 to 37 are your best cricketing years as a batsmen. I\u2019m enjoying my T20 cricket wherever I am playing in the world but honestly speaking right now I\u2019m not enjoying playing for Pakistan.<\/span><\/div>\n

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“Right now I\u2019m not enjoying playing for Pakistan” Shoaib Malik has represented Pakistan on more than 300 occasions across all formats and in this time he has accumulated over 8,000 runs as well as picking up 178 international scalps for Pakistan. The all-rounder last represented Pakistan in their unsuccessful 2014 World T20 campaign […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10151"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10151\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}