This is a decent Pakistan side. There is talent in this group. A number of these players have performed consistently in domestic cricket and on the county circuit, so their ability is not in question.
For me, the bigger issue is what happens when they put on the Pakistan shirt. International cricket is as much about the mind as it is about skill. At this level, players need confidence, clarity and, most importantly, the backing of the management.
Right now, I’m not sure every player has that clarity. Look at the top four. With Babar Azam expected to return, do they know who will play the next game and what their individual roles are? A player cannot perform with freedom if he is constantly wondering whether one failure will cost him his place. These are conversations the management must have openly and honestly with the players.
Fitness is another area where there can be no compromise. When you represent Pakistan, fitness cannot be something you work on only before a series or tournament. It has to be part of the culture and the standard you live by every day.
This may not be the strongest Pakistan team we have ever produced, but let’s also be fair — this is not the strongest England side we have faced either. What disappoints me is not simply losing. Pakistan teams have lost before. It is losing without making the opposition feel that they have been in a fight.
That was always the character of Pakistan cricket. When our backs were against the wall, that was often when we were at our most dangerous. We were unpredictable, aggressive and capable of changing a match in one spell, one partnership or one moment of brilliance. (1/2)
Star All-Rounder @realshoaibmalik joined Peshawar Zalmi for PSL 5 and won the hearts of Zalmi fans with his numerous match winning performances. As we bid farewell to the legend, here's a recollection of Shoaib Malik's 3 memorable years with Peshawar Zalmi.
#Zalmi#YellowStorm
Saar Saar please don't troll him because he scored fifties in bilaterals against SA Z team and Zimbabwe and Australia Z team. 🙏🙏🙏
Woh alag baat hai un fifties se phele
0(2) , 11(18) vs SA
0(3), 16(22) vs SL & Zim
24(20), 2(5) vs Aus
banaye the
Btw also scored a duck against SL after Zimbabwe fifty. 😂😂
Happy 44th birthday to the person I grew up watching cricket.
You will be my forever favourite cricketer ever ❤️😻❤️🩹
#happybirthdayshoaibmalik#shoaibmalik
🧢 446 international matches
🏏 11,867 runs and 218 wickets across the three formats
🏆 2009 ICC @T20WorldCup and 2017 ICC Champions Trophy winner
🎂 Happy birthday to former Pakistan captain @realshoaibmalik! Revisit his career-best Test score of 245 🎥
KING MALIK Achievements as a Cricketer:
● International Cricket:
Runs: 11,867
Hundreds: 12
Fifties: 61
Double Hundred: 1
Catches: 166
Sixes: 199
Wickets: 218
BBI: 4/19
POTMs: 25
POTSs: 8
●T20 Format:
Runs: 13,571
Wickets: 187
Fifties: 83
Catches: 238
Sixes: 422
POTMs: 43
POTSs: 3
BBI: 5/13
5fers: 2
■ MAJOR TOURNAMENT WINS:
• 2009 T20WC
• 2017 Champions Trophy
• 2000 Asia Cup
• 16 T20 titles
■ PAKISTAN-SPECIFIC RECORDS:
• 9th highest international run-scorer for Pakistan: (11,867 runs)
• 5th most ODI runs for Pakistan: (7,534 runs)
• 4th most T20I runs for Pakistan: (2,423 runs)
• 5th most ODI wickets for Pakistan among spinners: (158 Wickets)
• 7th most Player of the Match awards for Pakistan: (25 POTMs)
• 3rd most Player of the Series awards for Pakistan: (8 POTS)
• Most runs for Pakistan in multi-nation events: (2,033 runs)
• 2nd most centuries for Pakistan in tournaments: (4 Hundreds)
• 2nd Most Player of the Match awards for Pakistan in tournaments: (7 POTMs)
• Most Runs for Pakistan in T20 World Cups: (646 runs at an average of 34)
• Most Runs for Pakistan in Asia Cups: (907 runs at an average of 65 along with 14 wickets at an economy of 4.3)
• 2nd most Player of the Match awards in Asia Cup history: (5 POTMs)
• Highest run-scorer in Asia Cup 2004: 316 runs at an average of 64 (along with 9 wickets at an economy of 3.2)
• Highest score in Champions Trophy for Pakistan: 128 vs India (2009)
■ ICONIC MOMENTS vs INDIA & In BIG GAMES:
• Four ODI centuries and 11 fifties against India in 42 Matches.
• 1,782 ODI runs vs India @ 47 average.
• Only Pakistani batter to score an ODI century against India in ICC events & Asia Cups.
• Most ODI hundreds in multinational tournaments vs India — (3 Hundreds)
• Century + four-wicket haul in the same ODI.
• Only player in T20 World Cup history to score two consecutive Match winning fifties on consecutive days:
• 57 (31) vs Sri Lanka 17 SEP 2007
• 52* (38) vs Australia 18 SEP 2007
• Match-winning partnerships with Shahid Afridi in 2009 T20WC semi-final & final
■ LEADERSHIP & CLUTCH RECORDS:
• 3rd most T20 Trophies (16 Titles)
• 6th Most runs in T20s.(13571 runs)
• 6th most POTMs in T20s. (43 POTMs)
• Highest winning percentage as Pakistan ODI captain — 61.0%
• Highest Batting Average against SENA in T20WC history: (49.80)
• First captain to win 10 T20I matches.
•2nd most Player of the Match awards as captain in T20s. (18 POTMs)
• 700+ T20I runs @ 47 avg & 150+ SR under Sarfraz Ahmed during Pakistan’s 3-year No.1 ranking period.
• Most runs in middle order in T20I wins (1662)
• 4th Most T20I wins as a Player (86 wins).
• Most not-outs in successful T20I run-chases in history — (18 times).
• 3rd most not-outs in successful run-chases (ODI + T20I) — (40 Times).
• 4th Most runs in Psl history (2350 runs)
• Highest 4th innings batting average in the 21st century — (58.71 Avg)
• Led Pakistan to the 2007 T20 World Cup final
■ T20 KNOCKOUTS & FINAL MASTER:
• Most Player of the Match awards in T20 knockouts — 9
• Most Player of the Match awards in T20 finals — (5 POTMs)
• Most runs in T20 finals — 589 @ 42 avg + 12 wickets
• Most runs in T20 knockouts — 1,675 @ 36 avg + 24 wickets
• Most runs in winning T20 finals — 470 @ 58 avg + 7 wickets
• Most runs in winning T20 knockouts — 1,001 @ 50 avg + 16 wickets.
• Player of the Match award in CPL Final 2015.
• Player of the Match award in LPL Final 2020.
■ HISTORIC MILESTONES:
• 30,000+ runs and 750+ wickets in professional cricket.
• Only player in history with 25,000+ runs & 300+ wickets — 25,018 runs & 496 wickets.
•Only Asian player with 2,000+ runs & 50+ wickets as captain in T20 cricket — 4,115 runs & 78 wickets
Happy birthday to one of the Greatest and most underrated cricket ever. @realshoaibmalik
#PakvsAus #PakVsInd
Shoaib Malik had 15 fifties in PSL overall
This 50 against Karachi is my personal favourite 😍
Quote with your personal favourite Malik innings in PSL 🤔
Shoaib Malik is one of the top run-scorers in PSL history, with 2,350+ runs across 93 matches — placing him 4th overall in the PSL all-time run carts 🙌.
-Thank you @realshoaibmalik , for giving us unforgettable memories 🤍🐐.
Shoaib Malik's T20 Career
Runs: 13,571
Avg: 36.0
SR: 127.24
HS: 95*
50s: 83
Fours: 1,059
Sixes: 422
Wickets: 187
Econ: 7.0
5fers: 2
BBI: 5/13
Catches: 238
MOTMs: 43
MOTMs in T20 Finals: 5
Pakistan's Greatest Ever T20 Player announced his retirement from all forms of Cricket.
Thank You @realshoaibmalik for everything. ❤️
#ThankyouMalik
I cherish every single moment and friendship I have made on and off the field throughout my 10 years of the Pakistan Super League as a player. It's time to call it a day. However, my passion and motivation to serve for the betterment of cricket will always stay.
Thank you @thePSLt20
#OnThisDay in 2005, Pak defeated WI in Australia.
Kamran Akmal smashed a brilliant (124 off 125 balls), including a 123-run partnership with Shoaib Malik (60 off 60).
Inzamam then finished the chase unbeaten on 62* (51), with Yousuf scoring 9* (22).
The KING of Sialkot. The first step the Sialkot team owners need to take is to pick Shoaib Malik and give him ALL responsibility. He will make Sialkot the strongest PSL team possible. The best cricketing mind in the country BY FAR. #Sialkot#Pakistan#PakistanCricket