According to former Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram, all-rounder Shoaib Malik deserves a farewell dinner rather than a farewell match. Malik will be hanging his boots after the World Cup. He had announced his retirement last year itself.
While speaking to a Pakistani journalist, Akram said that Malik has done a lot for Pakistan cricket.
“Of course, he had announced that he will retire after the World Cup. Unfortunately, it has not ended on a high note. I think he deserved to end his career on a high as he has done a lot for Pakistan cricket,” Akram said.
“He did not play the majority of the World Cup matches. He even got out on duck a couple of sides. But this happens to players. We should always remember that Shoaib Malik has done very well for Pakistan, and won matches for the country. He is a nice guy, so let’s send him a nice farewell, for once. I know he could not perform in this World Cup, but he has performed over the years for Pakistan,” the pacer added.
When the journalist asked Akram if Malik deserved a farewell match, he said, “This is not club cricket where you ask a player to play for another match. We would rather organise a farewell dinner for him.”
Malik has played only 3 out of the 9 matches in this World Cup. However, he could manage only eight runs, including two ducks.
He has to face a lot of criticism after Pakistan’s loss against India in Manchester on June 16. A video had gone viral which showed Malik and a few other cricketers partying and socialising on the night prior to India match.
However, Malik denied all the allegations because he did not find it right to clarify his personal life.
