Shoaib Malik
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 Pakistan (Pak) |
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| Batting style | Right-handed batsman (RHB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling type | Right-arm offbreak (OS) | |
| Tests | ODIs | |
| Matches | 18 | 136 |
| Runs scored | 941 | 3503 |
| Batting average | 37.64 | 33.68 |
| 100s/50s | 1/5 | 5/21 |
| Top score | 148* | 143 |
| Balls bowled | 1429 | 4798 |
| Wickets | 13 | 104 |
| Bowling average | 63.07 | 34.46 |
| 5 wickets in innings | - | - |
| 10 wickets in match | - | n/a |
| Best bowling | 4/94 | 4/19 |
| Catches/stumpings | 8/- | 48/- |
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As of March 17, 2007 |
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Shoaib Malik (Urdu: شعیب ملک) (born 1 February 1982 in Sialkot) is a Pakistani cricketer who is a member of the Pakistani cricket team. He made his Test debut in 2001 against Bangladesh and One Day International (ODI) debut in 1999 against the West Indies.
Prior to the commencement of the World Cup Malik is ranked as 7th best all-rounder in the world on the LG ICC Cricket Rankings. As a batsman he is ranked 29th and as a bowler 47th, which indicates that he is a batting all-rounder.
He started his career as an off spinner, and is now regarded as a useful batsman with a batting average in the mid 30s in both Test and ODI cricket. In Tests, he has a better batting average against Sri Lanka and South Africa than other nations. In ODIs he has a better batting average against India, South Africa, and the West Indies than his overall career average. During his Test career he has batted at 5 different positions, mainly either opening or at 6th position. Malik has the unusual record of batting at every position except 11th in ODIs. Pakistan's recent poor opening statistics have lead to Malik being alloted the position of opener in Test matches.
As with most Test-playing nations selection in the final XI is very competitive; particularly for an allrounder in Pakistan as there are 2 other accomplished allrounders in Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi. Razzaq's current injury and Malik's good recent form have ensured that Malik has retained his position in the team.
Malik is regarded as a flexible player. He is capable of hitting big shots and has a strike rate of 77.01 runs per 100 balls, which compares favourably to players such as Rahul Dravid and Inzamam ul-Haq. His most brazen display of "power hitting" came in 2003 against South Africa when he scored 82 from 40 balls. As is required of most modern players he also has displayed good defensive batting at times. He has taken over 100 ODI wickets at an average under 35 and economy rate below 4.5.
Shoaib Malik's father died on January 25th 2006 when he succumbed to an illness that had afflicted him for a long period. Consequently, Malik missed the 3rd Test played between Pakistan and India. However, he returned for the ODI series with impressive form, including scores of 90, 95, and 108.
In Test cricket he made a big impression with his match-saving innings against Sri Lanka, in which he batted for the whole day and finished with 148 runs not out. His bowling has been effective at times, especially in one-day cricket where his best bowling figures are four wickets for 19 runs (4/19) in addition to many 3-wicket hauls.
[edit] External links
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Pakistan squad - 2007 Cricket World Cup | |
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1 Inzamam | 2 Younis | 3 Azhar | 4 Kaneria | 5 Rao | 6 Imran | 7 Kamran | 8 Hafeez | 9 Sami | 10 Yousuf | 11 Rana Naved | 12 Afridi | 13 Malik | 14 Umar | 15 Arafat | Coach: Woolmer Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were named in the original squad but withdrew from the tournament. |
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