Tour of South Africa: Pakistan will bounce back in ODIs, says Malik

All-rounder confident team will recover from Test series disappointment.

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said that the national cricket team has the ability to bounce back in the One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa after a disappointing show in the Test series.

Malik said that cricket is an unpredictable game and once a team encounters a bad patch it becomes difficult to come out of it. However, he is confident Pakistan will come back all guns blazing.

“Unfortunately, we had a bad start in the Test series and we could not get out of it,” said Malik. “Pakistan has a good Test side but things did not work out in South Africa for us. But now we need to move on and try to reverse the results in the one-day series, although it will be a big challenge.”

The all-rounder said Pakistan possess a good record in Twenty20s (T20) and ODIs and are capable of producing unexpected results, therefore they can pose a strong challenge for South Africa.

Malik, who is now considered only for T20 or ODI matches, said the coming series is also a personal challenge for him.

“I was in South Africa late last year for the Champions League so I know the conditions are different there but I have been playing lot of domestic cricket and I know I can do well. I am feeling good about my cricket and am ready to bat at any position for Pakistan against South Africa. Given my recent performance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, I am ready for the challenge.”

Malik said people needed to support the Pakistan team despite its whitewash in the Tests.



“We must understand that South Africa is the number one Test side and they played as per their reputation.”

Malik scored a brilliant 153 in his last domestic match in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy last week while leading Sialkot region into the final of the tournament. Malik, Kamran and Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shahzad, Zulfiqar Babar and Asad Ali have joined the national team for the limited-overs leg where they will play twoT20s and five ODIs.

Junaid doubtful for Twenty20s

Fast bowler Junaid Khan, who missed the last two Tests against South Africa, remained a doubtful starter for the two Twenty20 games.

Junaid suffered a thigh injury after the opening Test in Johannesburg and is still recovering from his injury.

The fast bowler has started training, however, the team management was still assessing his fitness and will decide on his availability today.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2013.