After a long and gruelling third day’s play at Sharjah, Mohammad Hafeez — unbeaten on 97 — was being interviewed by Rameez Raja. When Raja revealed to him that Shoaib Malik has just announced his Test retirement in the press conference, Hafeez was visibly shocked, as were many in the Pakistani camp. With all attention on Misbah-ul-Haq’s speculated retirement after the ongoing Test against England, Malik dropped a bombshell when he stated, “I am taking retirement from Test cricket and this is my last Test.” He made it clear that he intends to focus on ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, and limited-overs will be his priority from now on.
It is usually a tendency of subcontinent cricketers to drag their careers too long till they are made to realise that it is time for them to hang their boots. In a selfless act, Malik — who made a comeback to the Test side after a gap of five long years — decided to part ways with cricket’s longest and most pristine format. He is 33, and could have easily dragged it on for a few more years, but he had his reasons. “…the main reasons I am retiring are because of my family, and to allow youngsters [in the Test team] to be groomed. Now is the time, amid the settled line-up, we can easily fit them in without any problem. Since I haven’t played many 50-overs World Cups, I want to play [in England] and I am looking ahead to get ready by quitting Test cricket so I can save my energy.”
Malik is right; despite their hiccups in the shorter formats, Pakistan in recent times have been excellent in Test cricket, and Malik’s retirement will open doors for other young players who can be groomed under the guidance of the likes of Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez and skipper Misbah (if he continues to play after the England series). Added to that, Malik averages 21 with the bat outside subcontinent and with Pakistan expected to play three away series next year, it does make sense for someone to introspect, figure out his strengths and set goals accordingly. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England 2015, 3rd Test at Sharjah
More known for his exploits in the limited-overs game, Malik’s career has been as contrasting as the functioning of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Breaking into the international scene as a teenage off-spinner who batted at No. 9, he later graduated to a bowling all-rounder before being one of the mainstays of the batting order. He made his ODI debut in 1999 and Test debut in 2001, but it was only in February 2002 that he got his first 50-plus score in international cricket when he slammed an unbeaten hundred against West Indies. In 2007, only 25 then, Malik was named the captain of the national side across formats, only to find himself sacked in 2009 and then dropped from the side in 2010. LIVE CRICKET UPDATES: Pakistan vs England 2015, 3rd Test at Sharjah, Day 4
It took him five years to stage a comeback, and few have made as memorable a comeback as his. Playing in the first Test against England at Abu Dhabi last month, Malik slammed 245 — his highest First-Class score — and also chipped in with four wickets. The late-20s and early-30s are usually the most fruitful years for a batsman and he is bound to be disappointed at missing out the key years. He said, “I am disappointed that I didn’t play Test cricket in the last five years and those were the years I wanted to play.”
In the ongoing Test at Sharjah, he got an important 38 in the first innings. On Tuesday — the day he announced his Test retirement, he picked up a four-for and followed it up with a golden duck — a day that aptly sums up his contrasting Test career.
Malik has scored 1,898 runs in 35 Tests at 35.14, slamming three hundreds, and also took 29 wickets at 51.48 (an average he can still improve on in the fourth innings). Pakistan may go on to win the Test series and Malik, despite his shortcomings, is set to be one of the very few Pakistani cricketers who had the honour of retiring gracefully from Test cricket. He unselfishly saw a greater good for his side ahead of himself and therefore he truly deserves it.
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sportsmarketer , strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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