Before the 2024 T20 World Cup, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik disclosed that he had declined an invitation to join the national men’s selection committee. The all-rounder felt that his still active playing career made it infeasible for him to take on that role.
Malik made this revelation at a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium. “I was given an offer before the T20 World Cup as a selector. All of the time, the entire selection committee had equal forces as there was no central selector,” stated Malik.
He said that he did not feel able to take on the role of selector while still playing. How can I choose players when I am earning my living from cricket myself? It just doesn’t make sense to me to be both a player and on the selection committee.
Malik, who has already asserted that he is not interested in playing cricket for Pakistan, reaffirmed his commitment to participating at the domestic level. “I have quit Tests and one-day internationals,” he said. “Regarding T20 internationals, I don’t want to play for the Pakistan team.”
But with a caveat: Malik would compete in domestic T20 competitions. Because he thinks his experience will help new players at this level.
“I am surely going to play in domestic T20s. I still feel that I can play at the domestic level. That way, I can give my better experience to the boys.” Malik stated.
Champions One-Day Cup Participation
Malik’s role as mentor for the Stallions team was also unveiled at this press conference for the impending Champions One-Day Cup, a 50-over tournament taking place at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29.
Name five champions as mentors from Pakistan for the competition, including Malik (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Saqlain Mushtaq (player-coach), Sarafraz Ahmed (lowest-scoring batsman of the 20th century), and Waqar Younis (leading wicket-taker). Each mentor will lead a team in the tournament, which aims to showcase Pakistan’s top 150 cricketers.
With questions arising about his retirement, Malik wants to finish his career comprehensively and conscientiously. “Indeed, I will retire in one go,” he stated. He did not provide a specific projected date for this move, however.
Malik also disclosed that he has already communicated his non-availability to some leagues, suggesting that the floodwaters were rising and he would eventually have to pull back from playing commitments.
Throughout his career, Shoaib Malik has played 446 Pakistan matches in all formats. He made his international debut in 1999 and his last in 2021. After over two decades on the big stage, Malik is one of Pakistan’s most seasoned cricketers.
Pakistan cricket continues to evolve. Throwing the country’s most voiceful players like Malik into mentoring roles will remain a valuable shot in the arm. A fine example is the Champions One-Day Cup, featuring the most talented from all parts of our fair land; here potential new stars can be identified and the national team’s strength, plus its womb of future generations, is given strong support.
What’s Next for Pakistan Cricket?
The T20 World Cup may be only days away, but as Pakistan cricket continues to spiral towards the stars, who from within will reach firmer footing? The Administration of Cricket in Pakistan thus faces a two-pronged concern about how to move forward with capacity and what sort all that capacity should be. The fact that veterans such as Malik are being persuaded to join the selectors is another sign that they want to practice and experience governing team decisions.
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But even as Malik moves into mentoring work from among those still active, and his role in the system handily straddles ballast and broad strategy direction at moments like these–it starts to seem as usage dividend generation boys ages into management suits.