Malik targets consistency after eighth ODI century

Middle-order batsman over the moon after delivering match-winning knock

LAHORE: All-rounder Shoaib Malik is targeting a permanent place in the national team by performing consistently for Pakistan after he scored his first ODI hundred in six years.

The 76-ball 112 was the eighth ton of his ODI career, lifting Pakistan to 375-3 – their highest ODI score at home and second highest overall.

“I’ve set a goal for myself to remain consistent with my performances and help my team win as much as possible,” said Malik. “I’m happy to receive the man-of-the-match award after so long; all good innings prolong your career. I dedicate this award to my mother.”

The middle-order batsman may not have made the same impact had the team management not made a tactical change after Pakistan got off to a good start, courtesy of Azhar Ali and Muhammad Hafeez’s 170-run opening stand.

“I was supposed to bat at number five in the first one-dayer, but [head coach] Waqar Younis and [spin consultant] Mushtaq Ahmed told me to go and bat at number three, which turned out to be a good decision. I’m grateful for the faith they reposed in me by telling me to take my time and regain my confidence,” he added.

Zimbabwe, who had given Pakistan a tough run in the T20I series, fought till the end and scored 334 in their 50 overs, which, according to Malik, deserves the highest praise. “Zimbabwe have to be appreciated for their resilience,” he said. “Instead of losing heart in face of such a mammoth total, they kept fighting till the end. The ball got wet after 13 overs and it was very difficult to control it, but you can’t take away the credit from them.”

The 33-year-old asked the fans and the cricket fraternity to exercise patience as the national side works towards regaining its former glory. “The team is in a rebuilding phase and we all need to show patience; things will not change overnight.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th,  2015.

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