I almost regained my confidence, says Shoaib Malik

Snubbed all-rounder vows to book permanent spot in team.

KARACHI: Struggling to find a permanent place in the squad, Shoaib Malik has vowed to keep fighting as he aims to don the national colours again.

Malik, who has led Pakistan in 36 One-Day Internationals (ODI), three Tests and 17 Twenty20s, was dropped for the Asia Cup, becoming one of the casualties of the disastrous limited-overs leg of the series against England.

The all-rounder was included in the series against England at captain Misbahul Haq’s request but failed to contribute substantially.

While he played a hand in Pakistan’s only win in the limited-overs series that came in the first Twenty20, the selectors were unimpressed.

However, Malik said he would bounce back and book a spot in the team.

“I recovered most of my form in the last ODI against England,” Malik told The Express Tribune, referring to the fourth ODI in which he scored 23 off 33 balls. “That gave me a lot of confidence which can be seen in my performance in the T20s.

“I almost regained my confidence after struggling in the previous months. Being snubbed for the Asia Cup has broken the tempo but I’m a professional cricketer and such things happen.”

‘I can play for another 6 to 8 years’

The 30-year-old, who has played 32 Tests and 203 ODIs, said he had a lot of cricket left in him.

“I can play for another six to eight years. The mid-thirties are the best years for a batsman.

“I’m not the kind of player who’ll keep on playing. If I feel I can’t perform anymore, I will quit.”

The seasoned all-rounder, who is representing his departmental team PIA in the ongoing Faysal Bank One-Day Cup Division One, has scored 149 runs besides claiming seven wickets in four matches of the domestic tournament.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2012.