‘He deserves to play T20 world cup 2024’ – Fans react as Shoaib Malik says he’s still available to play for Pakistan

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik has revealed his ambition to represent his country in the next edition of the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in 2024. Malik, who has been playing international cricket since 1999, said that he is still available for selection if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) needs him.

Malik, who is currently the fourth-highest run-scorer in T20 internationals with 2435 runs in 124 matches, also stated that he wants to break the record of West Indies’ Chris Gayle, who has amassed 2532 runs in 75 matches. Gayle is the only batsman to have scored more than 2000 runs in both T20Is and ODIs.

“I’m still playing and if Pakistan want me in the 2024 World Cup, I want clarity. I want to break Chris Gayle’s record of most runs in the T20s,” Malik said in an interview.

Watch the video below:

I am not playing cricket because I wanted to represent Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2024, If they want me then I want clarity, I wanted to break Chris Gayle record for the most runs in T20 cricket: Shoaib Malik pic.twitter.com/7dhFCpCTJA

— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) November 13, 2023

Malik made his ODI debut against West Indies in 1999 and his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2001. He has played 35 Tests, 287 ODIs and 124 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring 1898, 7534 and 2435 runs respectively. He has also taken 32, 158 and 28 wickets in the three formats.

Malik was part of the Pakistan squad that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, where he scored 176 runs in seven matches at an average of 35.20. He also captained Pakistan in the 2009 edition, where they finished as the runners-up. He announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2015 and from ODIs in 2019.

Malik’s last appearance for Pakistan was in the T20I series against England in September 2020, where he scored 14 runs in three matches. He was dropped from the squad for the home series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, and also for the ongoing T20 World Cup in India.

Malik’s statement has sparked a lot of reactions from the fans, who are divided over his comeback. Some fans are supportive of his decision and want him to play for Pakistan again, while others are skeptical of his form and fitness and think that he should make way for the younger players.

See how fans have reacted:

🤣🤣🤣

Bhai that is not breaking Chris Gayle’s record, that is called breaking record of Shamelessness of forcefully playing 🤣🤣

— Sunny (@being_sunny1) November 13, 2023

They don’t want World Cup, they want these unwanted records

— Manu (@virat_facts) November 13, 2023

The obsession with personal stats among Pakistanis is unreal.

— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) November 13, 2023

He could have said " I want to win a trophy for Pakistan" but he wants to break Gayle's record. State of Pakistan cricket…

— Cricket 24×7 (@SIRMRCRICKET) November 13, 2023

Le Chris Gayle to Malik: Baith jaa pic.twitter.com/DUjeAWBcGH

— Sarcastic Cowboy (@SarcasticCowboy) November 13, 2023

Last time when a Pakistani cricketer was obsessed by his personal achievement 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/iw7Q31tgRy

— Sæn (@TheHelmetPunch) November 13, 2023

Babar after reaching to Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/SX8uzdPzsu

— Guddu (@nammu_92) November 13, 2023

Shoaib Malik To PCB :- pic.twitter.com/OsIbABxbJh

— Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) November 13, 2023