Shoaib Malik Biography
Shoaib Malik did not find much opportunity to rally his bat for two long years from his debut in 1999 as he was sent mostly number ten or nine. When he was first moved to number four, he lost no time to score the team’s highest an unbeaten 111 to win the 2nd ODI over the West Indies at Sharjah in 2001/02. And that was the beginning of the saga of batsman Shaib Malik. He nailed down the New Zealanders by scoring another ton, the teams’ highest of 115 as an opener, and taking three vital wickets at Lahore in 2000. Pakistan’s experimentation with Shoaib seemed never ending sending him in all positions possible save wicket keeping. And he proved himself as an adept one. From run chase to setting up platforms for a big total, he became the most intelligent Pakistani cricketer in the present squad. He hit five centuries and 22 fifties in his 144 ODI career so far. In Tests too, he is also a match winner both with his willow and the leather. His unbeaten 148 saved the first Test Against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2005/06. As an off spinner, he has striking similarity with the gifted Saqain Mushtaq, but his action was reported twice before he undergoing his first elbow surgery in 2004 and the second in 2005 to correct his action. He has in his kitty 105 wickets in 140 ODIs. Shoiab Malik was appointed Captain for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in 2007 and he was instrumental in taking the team to the final before being beaten out by India in a nail biting finish.

Shoaib Malik