Shoaib Malik

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Shoaib Malik
female =


country = Pakistan
fullname =
nickname =
living = true
partialdates =
dayofbirth = 1
monthofbirth = 2
yearofbirth = 1982
placeofbirth = Sialkot, Punjab
countryofbirth = Pakistan
dayofdeath =
monthofdeath =
yearofdeath =
placeofdeath =
countryofdeath =
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Right-hand bat
bowling = Right-arm offbreak
role = All-rounder

international = true
testdebutdate = 29 August
testdebutyear = 2001
testdebutagainst = Bangladesh
testc

lasttestdate = 22 November
lasttestyear = 2007
lasttestagainst = India
odidebutdate = 14 October
odidebutyear = 1999
odidebutagainst = West Indies
odic

lastodidate = 4 July
lastodiyear = 2008
lastodiagainst = Bangladesh
odishirt = 18

club1 = Sialkot Stallions
year1 = 2004/05-2006/07
clubnumber1 =
club2 = Gloucestershire
year2 = 2003/04
clubnumber2 =
club3 = Sialkot
year3 = 2001/02-2006/07
clubnumber3 =
club4 = Pakistan Reserves
year4 = 1999/00
clubnumber4 =
club5 = PIA
year5 = 1998/99-2007/08
clubnumber5 =
club6 = Gujranwala
year6 = 1997/98-1998/99
clubnumber6 =
club7 =
year7 =
clubnumber7 =
club8 =
year8 =
clubnumber8 =
club9 =
year9 =
clubnumber9 =
club10 =
year10 =
clubnumber10 =
club11 =
year11 =
clubnumber11 =
club12 =
year12 =
clubnumber12 =
club13 =
year13 =
clubnumber13 =
club14 =
year14 =
clubnumber14 =
club15 =
year15 =
clubnumber15 =

deliveries = balls
columns = 4
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 21
runs1 = 1,076
bat avg1 = 35.86
100s/50s1 = 1/6
top score1 = 148**
deliveries1 = 1,507
wickets1 = 13
bowl avg1 = 67.00
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 4/42
catches/stumpings1 = 9/–
column2 = ODIs
matches2 = 167
runs2 = 4,576
bat avg2 = 35.75
100s/50s2 = 6/29
top score2 = 143
deliveries2 = 5,715
wickets2 = 124
bowl avg2 = 34.82
fivefor2 = 0
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 4/19
catches/stumpings2 = 60/–
column3 = T20I
matches3 = 13
runs3 = 322
bat avg3 = 29.27
100s/50s3 = 0/2
top score3 = 57
deliveries3 = 60
wickets3 = 5
bowl avg3 = 14.20
fivefor3 = 0
tenfor3 = n/a
best bowling3 = 2/15
catches/stumpings3 = 4/–
column4 = T20D
matches4 = 39
runs4 = 1,070
bat avg4 = 41.15
100s/50s4 = 0/8
top score4 = 88**
deliveries4 = 404
wickets4 = 26
bowl avg4 = 18.69
fivefor4 = 1
tenfor4 = n/a
best bowling4 = 5/13
catches/stumpings4 = 19/–

date = 11 October
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8219/8219.html CricketArchive

Shoaib Malik (Urdu: شعیب ملک) (born 1 February, 1982 in Sialkot) is the current captain of the Pakistani cricket team. He made his One-Day International debut in 1999 against the West Indies and his Test debut in 2001 against Bangladesh.

Malik is currently ranked second, behind teammate Shahid Afridi, in the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings. [ [http://www.iccreliancerankings.com/odi/all-rounder/rankings.php Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship All-Rounder Rankings] . "International Cricket Council." Retrieved on 2008-06-23.]

International career

He started his career as just an off spinner, and is now regarded as a useful bowling all-rounder with a batting average in the mid 30s in both Test and ODI cricket.

Malik is regarded as a flexible player. He is capable of hitting big shots but is also capable of rotating the strike with good placement. He has a strike rate of 77.23 runs per 100 balls, which compares favourably to players such as Rahul Dravid and Inzamam ul-Haq. His most brazen display of "power hitting" came in 2003 against South Africa when he scored 82 from 41 balls. As is required of most modern players he also has displayed good defensive batting at times. He has taken over 100 ODI wickets at an average under 35 and economy rate below 4.5. His bowling action has come under scrutiny (particularly his doosra) but he has had elbow surgery to correct this.

In Tests, he has a better batting average against Sri Lanka and South Africa than other nations. In ODIs he has a better batting average against India, South Africa, and the West Indies than his overall career average. During his Test career, Malik has batted at 5 different positions and he has the unusual record of batting at every position except 11th in ODIs. Pakistan's problems in finding a reliable opening pair have led to Malik being used as an opener in Test and ODI matches.

Captaincy

Following Inzamam-ul-Haq's resignation as Pakistan captain after the 2007 World Cup, Shoaib Malik was put forward as one of the names for the captaincy along with Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. After Younus Khan's rejection, Malik was the popular choice as a younger captain and was seen to represent a fresh start after the Inzamam era.

Former skipper Imran Khan, who led the team to World Cup glory, backed Malik for the role, stating,"He appears to have a good cricket brain and could turn out to be a very good choice for Pakistan cricket."

Malik was appointed Captain on 19 April 2007 by the Pakistan Cricket BoardHis experience considering his relatively young age and consistent performances are cited as other reasons for his appointment. His vice-captain was initially Mohammad Asif, followed by Salman Butt, although Younus Khan was recently appointed his deputy when Butt was dropped from the team.

In Malik's first series as captain, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in an ODI series in Abu Dhabi. His next assignments were home Test and ODI series against South Africa which Pakistan lost 1-0 and 3-2 respectively. 3-2 was the score in favour of India when Pakistan subsequently played an ODI series against their arch-rivals. Malik hit 89 and took three wickets in the final match, which Pakistan won by 31 runs.

Notable Performances

In Test cricket he made a big impression with his match-saving innings against Sri Lanka, in which he batted for the whole day and finished with 148 runs not out. His bowling has been effective at times, especially in one-day cricket where his best bowling figures are four wickets for 19 runs (4/19) in addition to many 3-wicket hauls.

Controversy

Malik came under criticism in India for his statement after losing the final of the 2007 ICC World Twenty20. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Dont_speak_for_Muslims/articleshow/2410000.cms Don't speak for Muslims] . "Times of India." Retrieved on 2008-03-09.] After the match he stated, "I want to thank you back home (in) Pakistan and where the Muslim lives all over the world." The mother of India's man of the match, Irfan Pathan, a Muslim, said: "Shoaib must have said that for his own countrymen, how can he speak for all the Muslims of the world? The way Irfan and Yusuf played for India, that's all that matters to us. They have made us proud of the way India won the Cup." [ [http://in.sports.yahoo.com/070925/48/6l78q.html Irfan's mother echoes the nation] . "Indian Express." Retrieved on 2008-03-09.] He was also criticised by some Pakistani fans for his comments, while others stated that the Indian media was creating a controversy by misinterpreting his statement. [ [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=3d8bb67c-7fcc-4cdb-9e80-f5dc0f64ac48Twenty20WorldCup_Special&&IsCricket=true&Headline=Shoaib's+remark+stings+fans%2c+raises+a+stink Shoaib's remark stings fans, raises a stink] . "Hindustan Times." Retrieved on 2008-03-09.] [ [http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1123601 World Cup or war? Pak jury is out] . "DNA India." Retrieved on 2008-03-09.]

References

External links

* [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/PAK/S/SHOAIB_MALIK_07008270/ Cricinfo profile]