Shoaib Malik: who is he? The name could be recognizable to some people, but it probably isn’t too many others. For those of you who don’t know, Shoaib Malik is a former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team and a cricketer from Pakistan. Nobody fulfills the description of a jack of all crafts, a master of none quite like Shoaib Malik. An almost two-decade-long career that started as an off-spinner will certainly conclude as one of Pakistan’s all-time most reliable batsmen in the shorter forms of the game, whenever that may be. The guy from Sialkot is a crowd favorite because of his solid defense and some attractive horizontal bat strokes and lofted drives. Also he is part of 2017 champions trophy winners team. In terms of his batting average, though, the most of his career has been a musical chairs game. From one to ten, he has toyed with each batting position.

Since 2001, he has competed in international cricket, and his career thus far has been outstanding. Let’s take a look at Shoaib Malik’s incredible journey from a budding cricket prodigy in Pakistan to one of the sport’s most successful players worldwide. Life as a cricketer can be extremely demanding, both mentally and physically. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a successful cricketer, and there are a lot of challenges that come with the job. Malik’s experience amply demonstrates how he has managed to pursue a successful profession despite the numerous obstacles he has encountered.

• A check in the background :-

On February 1, 1982, Shoaib Malik was born in Sialkot, Punjab. First-class cricketer Malik Abdul Qadir, who played for Pakistan in the 1970s and 1980s, was his father. The mother of Malik is British. When Malik was a little child, his family relocated to Rawalpindi.

Malik became into cricket at a young age. Afterward, he joined the Beaconhouse School System in Lahore after completing the Pakistani International School in Dubai. At the age of 16, Malik made his first-class debut for Sialkot. At the 2000 ICC Under-19 World Cup, he led Pakistan’s Under-19 team to victory.

• His way into internationals:-

Malik joined the Pakistani ODI team on a regular basis after making his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2001. He was a member of the Pakistani team that won the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007. After being found guilty of tampering with the ball throughout a Test match against New Zealand in 2009, he received an 18-month cricket suspension. In 2010, Malik made a comeback to the international cricket scene and was a key contributor to Pakistan’s triumph in the Asian Games. Nonetheless, things became worse when the board decided to take an unusual move against senior players in March 2010 and ban him for a year following a poor tour of Australia. He has represented Pakistan in over 300 ODIs and 50 Test matches. Malik got committed to the famous Indian tennis player Sania Mirza.

Moreover, he has competed for Pakistan in Twenty20 and One Day Internationals. Malik has led the national team in each of the game’s three versions. In 1999, while England was hosting the Cricket World Cup, Malik made his debut for his country. Since then, he has played for Pakistan in more than 350 games across all three game types. With a best score of 143 in an ODI, he has amassed over 10,000 runs in international cricket. With a high of 5/10 in Test cricket, he has also taken over 200 wickets in international cricket.

• An all rounder:-

A professional cricketer from Pakistan named Shoaib Malik has competed for his country since 1999. He is a versatile athlete who bats and bowls right-handed off-spin. Malik has played for a number of Pakistani teams who have achieved success, notably the squad which won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. Also, he was a member of the 2016 and 2017 Pakistan Super League champion squads. At the 2017 championship, Shoaib received the Player of the Tournament award.

Malik has also engaged in off-field pursuits, including serving as a brand ambassador for a number of well-known Pakistani companies. He is also a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Cricket Committee. Shoaib Malik has had a very successful cricket life. In ODIs, he has amassed over 8,000 runs, and in Tests, over 3,000 runs. One of the best all-rounders in the game, he also has taken more than 300 wickets in both forms. Also, he was a member of something like the Pakistani squad that won the 2009 T20 World Cup as well as other famous Pakistani teams. After a disappointing performance for Pakistan in the 2013 Champions Trophy, he was benched first from the ODI team, but since making a comeback during the 2015 World Cup, his average and strike rate have increased. He will be well-maintained by a strong desire to play for Pakistan till the 2019 World T20, which bodes well for the Pakistan limited overs team. 

Shoaib Malik has performed in nearly every position on a cricket team, to the point that, over than 10 years into his career. His knowledge and ability to inspire players have always been crucial for Pakistan in many games. Even in the most challenging circumstances during his leadership, he never stepped down from his duty and performed with unwavering dedication. He became one of the finest and most recognizable athletes by respecting his coach’s instructions, encouraging his team members, and inspiring all the young people around him. Shoaib Malik has had a very successful cricket career. In addition to getting wickets and runs, he also succeeded in winning millions of fans’ hearts over his cricket career and has been trying hard to win even more! Shoaib demonstrated that working for both the country and pursuing your passion is not as simple as they appear to be. Due to his reliability, he has gained respect both from the young and old fans alike.