Performance, not politics, brought me back: Malik

Former captain and Razzaq return; duo denies disciplinary breach

KARACHI: They say that it only in Pakistan cricketers make plenty of comebacks and authorities keep giving tried and tested players repeated opportunities without much success.

Some get the chance to make a return on the basis of good showing in domestic cricket while others are said to be obliged for being the 'blue-eyed boys’ for people at the helm or due to political influence.

Among the cricketers who make repeated comebacks is former captain Shoaib Malik who made yet another return to the national team along with seasoned all-rounder Abdul Razzaq recently in the Twenty20 series against South Africa in UAE. Both failed to make a mark in difficult situations against the Proteas.

However, the duo accompanied the team to South Africa for a limited-overs series but was forced to fly back after sustaining injuries.

Upon their return to Lahore on Thursday, Malik when asked whether he uses political influence to regain his berth in the national team, shot back without mincing words.

“I was the top scorer in CPL [Caribbean Premier League], then in first class, one-day and Twenty20 tournaments [domestic].

“I will also ask people who feel this to let me know if they have their own form of cricket. I will play that and perform there too for an entry in the team,” he said.

Malik, who could just chip in with 27 runs from the two games before falling to leg-spinner Imran Tahir, was also unhappy over the criticism against him.

“How can a player be gauged from performances in just two Twnety20s? My finger was bleeding [in the second T20] but I still went in to bat for my country.”

‘No discipline issues’

Meanwhile, both cricketers denied reports that they were sent back after a breach in discipline.

“There is no other reason besides fitness," said Razzaq. "I have been advised rest for ten days and thus had to return to Pakistan.”

Malik received stitches on his finger while batting in the second T20 in Dubai. According to the Pakistan Cricket Board, the injury aggravated due to travel stress (Dubai to Johannesburg). Meanwhile, Razzaq suffered from a hamstring injury during training in South Africa.