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Shoaib Malik, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, recently talked about the possibility of making a comeback to the national squad ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place in the USA and West Indies.
Notably, the 41-year-old veteran cricketer hasn’t worn the Green jersey since participating in a T20I series in Bangladesh two years ago. Additionally, the right-handed batter has been absent from competitive cricket since his last stint with the Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023.
Despite the hiatus, Malik’s contemplation on returning to the international stage adds an intriguing dimension to Pakistan’s prospects in the forthcoming edition of the T20I World Cup.
‘I want to represent Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024’: Shoaib Malik
Malik expressed that his motivation for playing cricket extends beyond a desire to represent the Green Team in the T20 World Cup 2024. He emphasized that his current involvement in the sport is driven by the enjoyment derived from the game. The former Pakistan skipper underscored the importance of clarity from selectors, stating that if they wish to include him, he seeks a clear understanding of his role and participation in the team.
“I am not playing cricket because I want to represent Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. I am playing because I am enjoying the game. If they want me then I want clarity,” Malik was quoted as saying in an event, Dawn News reported.
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Shoaib Malik’s ambitious goal of breaking Chris Gayle’s record
Malik further shared his ambitious personal goal of surpassing Chris Gayle‘s record for the most runs in T20 cricket. With approximately 2000 runs needed to achieve this milestone, the southpaw expressed confidence in his physical fitness, expressing gratitude for his good health.
“My goal is to break Chris Gayle’s record for most runs in T20 cricket. I need around 2000 runs to become the best T20 batter in the world. I haven’t had issues with physical fitness thanks to god,” the Sialkot-born cricketer added.
It is worth mentioning that Malik has amassed 12,688 runs in 515 games and stands 1874 runs behind Gayle, who has scored 14,562 runs in 463 matches.