Shoaib Malik confirms ODI retirement after World Cup exit

Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik confirmed his retirement fromone-day cricket without making a farewell appearance in his side’s victory overBangladesh.

  Malik had admittedlast year that he intended to quit one-day cricket after the World Cup and hefollowed through with that plan after Pakistan’s 94-run win at Lord’s.

   

The 37-year-old will continue to play the Twenty20 format,but he admitted it was an emotional moment to call time on his ODI career.

“I am retiring from one-day cricket,” said Malik,who was dropped after a disappointing World Cup featuring two ducks in threemaches.

“I’m sad as I’m leaving the format I loved the most butthis will allow me to spend more time with my family and concentrate on theTwenty20 World Cup next year,” added Malik, who is married to Indiantennis star Sania Mirza.

Malik’s decision came after a Pakistan win which was notenough to take the 1992 champions into the semi-finals.

Pakistan were ousted by New Zealand on net run-rate despitefinishing level on 11 points after nine matches.

Malik appeared in 287 one-day internationals and scored7,534 runs with nine hundreds.

His last appearance came in the defeat against arch rivalsIndia in Manchester on June 16.

As an off-spinner he finished with 158 wickets, while healso captained Pakistan in 41 ODIs.

Malik said he was disappointed to finish on a low note.

“Yes, I wanted to help my team win the World Cup as asenior but at times things don’t go the way you think and that’s part andparcel of cricket,” he said.

“You don’t judge a player on two or three matches, butI am still happy that the player who replaced me performed well,” Maliksaid of Haris Sohail, who scored half-centuries against South Africa and NewZealand.

“I never thought that I will play 20 years for Pakistanbut when you play with hard work and honesty you achieve the best and thathappened with me.

“I am satisfied with my ODI career and winning theChampions Trophy has been the highlight of my ODI career,” he added ofPakistan’s triumph in England two years ago.

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