- Shoaib Malik announced retirement from all forms of international cricket
- Malik suggests Babar Azam should focus on batting, not captaincy.
- Malik is the second-highest run-scorer in T20I cricket.
Malik, who has already retired from two formats, mentioned in an interview with a local sports website that his international cricket career is over.
“No, I am happy and satisfied after playing for so many years. I have no interest in playing for Pakistan again,” Malik said.
“I have already announced retirement from two formats. I have been playing league cricket, and enjoying my time, wherever I get an opportunity to play, I try to avail it.”
When asked about his retirement from T20 international cricket, the former captain said that he would retire from all forms of cricket entirely.
“I have no interest but as I said in my previous interviews I will announce my retirement from all forms of cricket once and for all,” he said.
Additionally, he suggested Babar Azam step down from the white-ball captaincy and focus solely on his batting.
“As for his captaincy, my firm stance is that he [Babar Azam] should play only as a player. That’s my opinion. When he plays as a player, he can do wonders for the team. He should stay away from leadership,” he added.
Shoaib Malik has played for Pakistan in 35 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 124 T20Is since his international debut in 1999. He has scored over 11,000 runs across three formats and taken a total of 218 wickets.
In T20s, he is the second-highest run-scorer with 13,360 runs, only behind West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who scored 14,562 runs.
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