The Pakistan bowling legend expressed his displeasure after a fan posed a question to Shoaib Malik.
One notable absence from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad was veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik. The 40-year-old star was a member of the squad for the previous year’s World Cup but did not make the squad for this year’s tournament in Australia. Interestingly, owing to inconsistent performances from the middle-order batters, Malik was widely tipped to be included in the 15-member squad by many former cricketers; however, the selection committee remained confident in the existing set of batters for the tournament.
Following Malik’s omission from the T20 World Cup, questions about the all-international rounder’s future arose. Prior to the start of the World Cup, the Pakistani star appeared on an expert panel for a national news channel, where he asked about his future with the team once more. When a fan asked if Malik had already retired from international cricket, it was former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram responded with a rather agitated response.
During the show, Akram was a part of the expert panel with Malik, and the former fast bowler made it clear that he not pleased with a question asked by a viewer.
“Wait a minute. Toh tum logon ki cheez ki badi jaldi hai. If usko retirement dena hai beta, then vo retirement dega. And if he wants to play cricket, he is one of the world’s fittest cricketers. (You guys are always rushing around. He will retire if he is too force. Otherwise, he is one of the fittest players in the world even now),” Akram said on A News.
Akram then pressed Malik to respond, and Malik did so in a straightforward manner.
“Main jab lunga retirement, vo sabko pata chalega.” I’m currently enjoying my cricket because I have no other plans. (Everyone will know when I retire.) I’m currently enjoying my cricket, so there are no plans for that),” Malik stated.