Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik announced his retirement from the 50-over format shortly after his team bowed out of the Cricket World Cup, narrowly missing out on a semifinals spot.
All-rounder Malik, 37, played 287 one-day internationals for Pakistan and scored 7,534 runs including nine centuries. The off-spinner also picked up 158 wickets in the format.
“Today was our last game, and I’m retiring from ODI cricket,” Malik told reporters after Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh by 94 runs at Lord’s on Friday.
“I had planned this for a few years ago to retire on the last Pakistan World Cup match. I’m sad that I’ll be leaving a format of cricket that I loved but happy that I’ll have more time to spend with my family.
“This will also allow me to focus on Twenty20 cricket.”
Malik, who made his debut in 1999, was the most capped player in Pakistan’s current World Cup squad but was dropped after the team’s humiliating loss to arch-rivals India in Manchester last month.
He managed just eight runs in his three matches, including two ducks, and took one wicket.
Malik, who led Pakistan to the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 where they lost to India, was a key member of the side’s triumph in the following edition in England in 2009.
Malik, who said his goal was to play the shortest format’s showpiece event in Australia next year, was congratulated by his wife Sania Mirza, the Indian tennis player.
“Every story has an end, but in life every ending is a new beginning’ @realshoaibmalik... u have proudly played for your country for 20 years and u continue to do so with so much honor and humility... Izhaan and I are so proud of everything you have achieved but also for who u r,” Mirza said on Twitter.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik retires from ODIs
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik retires from ODIs
- All-rounder has played 287 one-day internationals and scored 7,534 runs
- “This will also allow me to focus on Twenty20 cricket”, off-spinner says
Pakistan says Iraq expressed ‘keen interest’ in JF-17 jets at air chiefs meeting
- Pakistan’s defense sector has drawn growing interest and investment since a four-day standoff with India in May last year
- Many countries have since increased defense engagement, while multiple others have proposed learning from Pakistan’s expertise
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Saturday that Iraq had shown “keen interest” in its JF-17 Thunder and Super Mushshak aircraft at a meeting between chiefs of the two air forces.
Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu called on Lt. Gen. Staff Pilot Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi, commander of the Iraqi Air Force, during his official visit to Iraq.
The Pakistani air chief was accorded a guard of honor at the Iraqi Air Force headquarters, symbolizing the strong bond of mutual respect, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
“Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, with emphasis on joint training, capacity-building and improving operational cooperation,” the ISPR said.
“The Iraqi Air Chief praised PAF’s professionalism and technological advancement, expressed interest in benefiting from PAF’s world-class training and expressed keen interest in JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, Super Mushshak trainer aircraft.”
Pakistan’s defense sector has drawn growing interest and investment, particularly since a four-day India-Pakistan military standoff in May last year. Islamabad claimed victory in the standoff, saying it had shot down six Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafale jets. India acknowledged losses but did not specify a number.
Many countries have since stepped up defense engagement with Pakistan, while delegations from multiple other nations have proposed learning from Pakistan Air Force’s multi-domain air warfare capabilities that successfully demonstrated how advanced Chinese military technology performs against Western hardware.
Pakistan markets the Chinese co-developed JF-17 as a lower-cost multi-role fighter and has positioned itself as a supplier able to offer aircraft, training and maintenance outside Western supply chains.
Islamabad is in the final phases of striking a $1.5-billion deal to supply weapons and jets to Sudan in a major boost for Sudan’s army that has been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Reuters reported this week, citing a former top air force official and three sources.
The South Asian country reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army, Reuters report last month, citing Pakistani officials. The deal, one of Pakistan’s largest-ever weapons sales, included the sale of 16 JF-17 fighter jets and 12 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft for basic pilot training.
