LAHORE – Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik says he will retire from ODIs after the next year’s World Cup in the United Kingdom.
However, the 36-year-old will continue to play the T20 format, subject to his fitness and performances.
Malik, who debuted for Pakistan in 1998 in an ODI against West Indies in Sharjah, announced his decision during a press conference in Lahore on Monday.
“The 2019 World Cup is my last event of the 50-over cricket,” Malik said. “I will try to keep playing T20s if I maintain fitness and form until 2020.”
Malik is part of Pakistan’s team which is going to tour Zimbabwe for a tri-nation T20 series (against the hosts and Australia) and a five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/sports/shoaib-malik-retires-from-test-cricket-289/
Malik, who captained Pakistan for a year from 2007, has played 261 ODIs for Pakistan. He has scored 6975 runs at an average of 35.22, hitting nine 100s and 41 fifties, and taking 154 wickets at 38.65 in the process.
“If you have made goals for yourself that keeps you running… I have made some for myself. We have already won two big events: the World T20 [in 2009] and the Champions Trophy [in 2017]. The only thing left in my career [to win] is that 50-over World Cup. That is the thing I am looking at which makes me work hard. I have big hopes from these youngsters and myself. We are going to give our best.”
Malik retired from Test cricket in 2015 after scoring his career-best 245 against England at Sharjah.
