Tag: Shoaib Malik

Virat Kohli achieved another significant milestone in his remarkable career on Monday by becoming the first Indian cricketer to score over 13,000 runs in T20 cricket.

The Indian stalwart achieved the milestone during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s high-octane IPL 2025 clash against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.

The star batter needed just 17 runs going into the match and ended up crafting a match-winning 67 off 42 deliveries, peppered with 10 boundaries, including two sixes.

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With this knock, the 36-year-old became only the fifth batter in men’s T20 history to breach the 13,000-run mark.

He joined an elite club featuring Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, and Alex Hales. Among these, Kohli stands second on the list of fastest to reach the landmark, doing so in 386 innings — just five more than Gayle’s 381.

It’s worth noting that Gayle holds the record for the most runs in T20 cricket, with 14562 runs, followed by Hales with 13610 and Malik with 13557.

Fastest to 13,000 runs in men’s T20s

• Chris Gayle – 381 innings
• Virat Kohli – 386 innings
• Alex Hales – 474 innings
• Shoaib Malik – 487 innings
• Kieron Pollard – 594 innings

Kohli’s knock proved vital as RCB edged past Mumbai Indians by 12 runs to script their first win at the Wankhede in over a decade.

The breakthrough victory was also powered by Krunal Pandya’s sensational four-wicket haul, helping Bengaluru defend their total and snap the Wankhede jinx.

The win pushed RCB to third place in the IPL 2025 standings with six points from four matches, while Mumbai Indians continued to struggle — sitting at eighth with just two points in five games.

WATCH: Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris join Peshawar Zalmi squad for PSL 10

Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik announced on Friday that he will be parting ways with the former champions Karachi Kings ahead of the highly anticipated player draft for the upcoming season 10 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

In a heartfelt message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Malik expressed his sentiments stating that his journey with the Kings has “come to an end” after four seasons.

“I would like to announce that my time with the Karachi Kings has come to an end. It has been a great experience playing for this amazing franchise and teammates,” wrote Malik.

The former captain extended his gratitude to the management of the Karachi Kings for their unwavering support throughout his time with the team.

“During my two stints with the team, Salman Iqbal and the management have been super accommodating and supportive,” he added.

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He also conveyed his eagerness to participate in the PSL draft for the first time since the league’s inception in 2016.

“Best wishes to you guys. Looking forward to be a part of the PSL Draft for the first time and an exciting season ahead,” he concluded

For the unversed, Shoaib Malik has been a mainstay of the PSL since its very beginning, having represented three different franchises – Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi.

He is currently the fourth-leading run-scorer in the history of the PSL, accumulating a total of 2,336 runs with an average of 33.37 across 91 games. In addition to his batting prowess, Malik has also showcased his all-round capabilities, taking 17 wickets over the years.

READ: Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma keep South Africa in dominant position

RAWALPINDI: Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik performed both with the bat and ball to steer Stallions to a narrow victory over Lions in the ongoing Champions T20 Cup at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Monday.

Lions’ skipper Imam-ul-Haq invited Stallions to bat first and his bowlers reduced the batting side to 21-2 early on.

Maaz Sadaqat played a composed 32-run knock, while captain Mohammad Haris struck 25 to stabilize the Stallions’ innings.

Following the quick dismissals of Sadaqat and Haris, Hussain Talat joined hands with Shoaib Malik to construct an 88-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Malik scored 39 off 30, while Talat smashed an unbeaten 51 off 36 to take Stallions to a respectable total of 162-5 in 20 overs.

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In response, the Lions had a shaky start to the run-chase as they lost Zeeshan Malik in the first over. Imam added 71 runs for the second wicket with Hasan Nawaz before the Lions witnessed a dramatic collapse, losing four wickets in quick succession.

Imam top-scored with 43 off 28, while Nawaz played a 30-run knock from 25 balls.

Khushdil Shah played a scratchy knock of 28 runs from 29 balls, while Aamer Yamin struck an unbeaten 27 off 24 but could not take their team across the line as they managed to score 150-7 in their 20 overs.

For Stallions, Zaman Khan, Shoaib Malik and Usman Tariq took two wickets each, while Mohammad Ali bagged one.

It’s worth noting that the Stallions are currently sitting at the top of the Champions T20 Cup points table with victories in both of their matches.

READ: Can Sri Lanka still qualify for WTC final after South Africa series defeat?

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shoaib Malik backed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to appoint Mohammad Rizwan as white-ball captain of the national men’s team.

Rizwan on Sunday, replaced Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white-ball captain after the latter stepped down from the role earlier this month, in a bid to focus more on his role as a player.

The 32-year-old will begin his tenure as captain with the white-ball series in Australia, starting on November 4.

Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is to date, scoring 5,401 runs with four centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps.

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As he leads the team in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November, Rizwan will become Pakistan’s 31st captain. For the first T20I in Brisbane on 14 November, he will be the 12th to captain Pakistan in the format.

During a recent media interaction in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Shoaib Malik expressed his admiration for Rizwan, highlighting his exceptional skills as a cricketer, while welcoming the wicket-keeper’s appointment as the white-ball captain.

“I am pleased that Mohammad Rizwan has become the captain of the cricket team; he is a smart cricketer,” Malik stated. “I pray for his success; failure teaches you more, while success can lead to complacency.”

READ: Ajaz Patel ’emotional’ on Mumbai return ahead of third India Test

The squads for the upcoming US Masters T10 season two have been finalized with players from across the globe, including former Pakistan captains Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq.

The upcoming season is scheduled to be played in Houston, Texas from November 8 to 17, with a new franchise — Chicago Players joining this season.

Misbah will be part of the New York Warriors as an Icon player, while Shoaib Malik has joined The Atlanta Riders as the Global Superstar.

Meanwhile, other Pakistani players include Mohammad Hafeez, Hussain Talat, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Khan, Umaid Asif, Sohail Tanvir and Anwar Ali.

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Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, the Founder and Chairman of T10 Global Sports, expressed his excitement for the upcoming season and the overall growth of cricket in the United States of America.

“Cricket in the US has been growing rapidly, and we want to be a part of this special journey. The ICC T20 World Cup this year made a significant impact in the region, and we want to build on that momentum and carry it forward,” Shaji Ul Mulk said.

“With Season 2 of the US Masters, we aim to provide fans with more memorable contests and help accelerate the growth of cricket in a non-traditional market like the USA.”

US Masters T10 Season 2 Squads:

The California Bolts: James Neesham (New Zealand: Icon), Lliam Plunkett (England: Platinum Grade), Colin de Grandhomme (New Zealand: Global Superstar), Shehan Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Bipul Sharma (India), Lahiru Milantha (USA), Munaf Patel (India), Martin Guptill (New Zealand), Manpreet Gony (India), Samiullah Shinwari (Afghanistan), Jon-Russ Jaggesar (West Indies), Devendra Bishoo (West Indies), Chris Benjamin (South Africa), Mayank Tehlan (India), Hussain Talat (Pakistan), Kesrick Williams (West Indies), and Dhammika Prasad (Sri Lanka).

The Detroit Falcon: Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka: Icon), Abdur Razzak (Pakistan: Platinum Grade), Aaron Finch (Australia: Global Superstar), Dawid Malan (England), Rayad Emrit (West Indies), Angelo Perera (Sri Lanka), Denesh Ramdin (West Indies), Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh), Seekkuge Prasanna (Sri Lanka), Chaturanga De Silva (Sri Lanka), Ariful Haque (Bangladesh), Lewis McManus (England), Imran Khan (Pakistan), Syed Rasel (Bangladesh), and Enamul Haque Jr (Bangladesh).

The Chicago Players: Parthiv Patel (India: Icon), Isuru Udana (Sri Lanka: Platinum Grade), Suresh Raina (India: Global Superstar), Gurkeerat Singh Mann (India), Anureet Singh (India), Kennar Lewis (West Indies), Pawan Negi (India), Kevin O Brien (Scotland), Ishwar Pandey (India), Jesse Ryder (New Zealand), William Perkins (West Indies), Shubham Ranjane (India), Jesal Kariya (India), Abhimanyu Mithun (India), Shapoor Zadran (Afghanistan), and Al-Amin Hossain (Bangladesh).

The New York Warriors: Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan: Icon), Shaun Marsh (Australia: Platinum Grade), Dwayne Bravo (West Indies: Global Superstar), Kamran Akmal (Pakistan), Sohail Khan (Pakistan), Umaid Asif (Pakistan), Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan), Richard Gleeson (England), Ben Dunk (England), Sohail Tanvir (Pakistan), Hassan Khan (Pakistan), Manoj Tiwary (India), Unmukt Chand (USA), Chris Wood (England), Sean Dickson (South Africa), and Imran Tahir (South Africa).

The Atlanta Riders: Nurul Hasan Sohan (Bangladesh: Icon), Ravi Bopara (England: Platinum Grade), Shoaib Malik (Pakistan: Global Superstar), Samit Patel (England), Mohammad Irfan (Pakistan), Hammad Azam (Pakistan), Ricardo Powell (West Indies), Kevon Cooper (West Indies), Kamrul Islam Rabbi (Bangladesh), Arafat Sunny (Bangladesh), Benny Howell (England), Elias Sunny (Bangladesh), Hamilton Masakadza (Zimbabwe), Rajdeep Darbar (India), and Amila Aponso (Sri Lanka).

The Morrisville Unity: Harbhajan Singh (India: Icon), Chadwick Walton (West Indies: Platinum Grade), Ashley Nurse (West Indies: Global Superstar), Obus Pienaar (South Africa), Saurabh Tiwary (India), Shannon Gabriel (West Indies), Rumman Raees (Pakistan), Anwar Ali (Pakistan), Upul Tharanga (Sri Lanka), Chandrapaul Hemraj (West Indies), Mukhtar Ahmed (Pakistan), Jasakran Malhotra (USA), Navin Stewart (West Indies), Carmi Le Roux (South Africa), Yogesh Nagar (India), Jonathan Carter (West Indies), and Rajat Bhatia (India).

READ: KL Rahul ranks Babar Azam above Travis Head

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik on Thursday, shared that he received a role in the national men’s selection committee ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Malik addressed a press conference here at Gaddafi Stadium after unveiling the logo of Champions Cup side Stallions with whom he will work as a mentor. The 50-over tournament will be played at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from 12-29 September.

The all-rounder revealed that he was approached to join the national men’s selection committee ahead of this year’s mega event but turned down the offer as he is still playing cricket.

“Look, I only received an offer once before the [T20 World Cup] to become the selector,” shared Malik.

“At that time, the entire selection committee had equal powers as there was no chief selector.

“But my reason [behind declining] was that I am still playing cricket and how can I select those cricketers with whom I play so it did not make sense that you play cricket and become a part of the selection committee simultaneously.”

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Shoaib Malik then responded to a question regarding his retirement plans and once again shared that he has lost interest in playing international cricket for Pakistan again.

“I’ve already said that I do not have any interest in playing for the Pakistan Cricket team,” said Malik.

“I’ve already retired from two formats, Tests and ODIs. In T20Is, I do not have any interest in playing for the Pakistan team.

“So my plan is to retire from all forms of cricket once and for all.”

Shoaib Malik was one of the five champion mentors unveiled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this week.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Waqar Younis are the other four mentors, who will reveal their side names and logos in PCB-arranged media conferences as part of promotion and publicity as well as creating Champions Cup brand awareness.

The Champions One-Day Cup will feature the country’s 150 best of the best cricketers. This will be a 50-over tournament that will be played on a single-league format.

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LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and two-time ICC Event winner Shoaib Malik will mentor the Stallions in next month’s Champions One-Day Cup, which will be played at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from 12-29 September.

Shoaib Malik was one of the five champion mentors unveiled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this week.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Waqar Younis are the other four mentors, who will reveal their side names and logos in PCB-arranged media conferences as part of promotion and publicity as well as creating Champions Cup brand awareness.

The Champions One-Day Cup will feature the country’s 150 best of the best cricketers. This will be a 50-over tournament that will be played on a single-league format.

All but the 16 September match between Lions and Panthers, which will start at 9.30 am, will commence at 3 pm. There will be three playoffs in four days with the final on Sunday, 29 September.

Shoaib Malik’s Stallions will take on Lions on 13 September, followed by matches against Wolves (15 September), Dolphins (19 September) and Panthers (21 September).

Shoaib Malik represented Pakistan in the 2007 and 2019 ODI World Cups, as well as six T20 World Cups and six Champions Trophy tournaments. Under his captaincy, Pakistan reached the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.

Malik is 33rd on the list of ODI players with 1,000 runs, 50 wickets and 50 catches. He also holds the record for one of the longest international careers, spanning nearly 20 years, having played in 35 Tests, 287 ODIs and 124 T20Is.

He has scored 11,867 runs and taken 218 wickets across formats and is considered one of the most sought-after cricketers in franchise cricket.

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“I am thrilled to be appointed as a mentor for the Stallions, a team with which I have shared many memorable moments as a player and captain,” said Shoaib Malik.

“Now, to return in the role of a mentor is an incredible opportunity. I am confident that I can still contribute significantly to the Stallion brand by sharing my experience and passion for the game.

“As a mentor, my role goes beyond just providing guidance from the dugout. I will also take to the field in select matches to impart my firsthand knowledge and experience.

“This will enable our upcoming cricketers to refine their skills and elevate their game, ultimately supporting the Pakistan Cricket Board’s efforts to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.

“I am a strong advocate of the Champions Cup format, which unites the best talents from our domestic cricket in a highly competitive, high-pressure environment.

“While there will be fierce battles for supremacy on the field, there will also be intense rivalries among the mentors as we strive to outmanoeuvre each other, bringing an extra layer of excitement to every match.

“In cricket, as in any field, the learning process never truly ends, but it can certainly be accelerated.

“With this in mind, I am optimistic that the Champions Cup, guided by our experienced mentors, skilled coaching staff, and live broadcasts, will significantly strengthen our domestic cricket structure. This, in turn, will cultivate more skilled and talented players, ready to take on the global stage.

“Of course, such progress won’t happen overnight, but with patience and persistence, we can achieve our shared goals.

“I eagerly anticipate the support of our dedicated Stallion fans and the media throughout the Champions Cup. Together, we can develop new champions who will bring glory not just to the team, but to our region and our country.”

READ: Pakistan head coach reveals why Shaheen Afridi was left out of second Bangladesh Test

Former Pakistan captain and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik urged India to separate politics from sports and also to visit Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Malik, during an interview with a local YouTube channel, emphasized the need for politics-free cricket and stated that India should come to Pakistan, highlighting that the national team also toured India for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.

“Whatever reservations there are between the countries, that’s a separate issue and should be solved separately. Politics shouldn’t come into sports. The Pakistan team went to India last year, and now it’s a good opportunity for the Indian team too,” Malik said.

“I think there are many players in the Indian team who haven’t played in Pakistan, so it would be great for them. We are good people. We’re very hospitable people, so I’m sure the Indian team should come,” Shoaib Malik added.

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025  is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February to March, however, India’s participation in the tournament is uncertain as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seeks the government’s approval to visit the country.

Reports emerged in Indian media, citing a source from the BCCI, that the Indian team will not be visiting Pakistan for the upcoming ICC event.

Further reports claimed that the board has formally proposed Dubai and Sri Lanka as potential venues for hosting India’s matches.

Remember, India refused to travel to Pakistan to participate in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023. As a result, the continental event was held in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka stepping in as a co-host.

It is worth noting that India has not travelled to Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 due to the long-standing political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

READ: Babar Azam, Rizwan’s replacement for GT20 Canada 2024 unveiled

Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik on Thursday shared that he has lost interest in playing international cricket for Pakistan again.

Malik, who is already retired from two formats, during an interview with a local sports outlet, hinted that his days in international cricket are over.

“No, I am happy and satisfied after playing for so many years. I have no interest in playing for Pakistan again,” Malik stated.

“I have already announced retirement from two formats. I have been playing league cricket, and enjoying my time, wherever I get an opportunity to play, I try to avail it.”

Upon being asked about his retirement from T20 international cricket, the former captain stated that he would hang his boots from all forms of cricket altogether.

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“I have no interest but as I said in my previous interviews I will announce my retirement from all forms of cricket once and for all,” he said.

He also suggested that Pakistan’s white-ball captain, Babar Azam, should step down from captaincy and focus solely on his batting. Shoaib Malik believes that the star batter can perform better without the burden of captaincy on his shoulders.

“As for his captaincy, my firm stance is that he [Babar Azam] should play only as a player. That’s my opinion. When he plays as a player, he can do wonders for the team. He should stay away from leadership,” he added.

Shoaib Malik has represented Pakistan in 35 Tests, 287 ODIs and 124 T20Is since making his international debut back in 1999. He has scored over 11000 runs across three formats and has taken a total of 218 wickets.

In league cricket, he is the second-highest run-scorer with 13360 runs, only behind West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who scored 14562 runs.

READ: Shoaib Malik backs THIS batter as Pakistan’s next white-ball captain

Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has recently suggested Fakhar Zaman as a potential candidate to replace Babar Azam as the national white-ball captain.

Babar Azam has been under fire following Pakistan’s lacklustre ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, where they got knocked out from the group stage.

Many fans and critics have attributed the Green Shirts’ disastrous performance to Babar’s captaincy and called for his removal as captain.

Shoaib Malik, during an interview with a local sports outlet, expressed support for struggling Babar and advised him to stay strong during tough times.

“Ups and downs are a part of life, especially when you are a cricketer from the subcontinent. He [Babar Azam] needs to stay strong during this time. I know he has a personality that embraces challenges; right now, it’s a downtime, but good times will come too,” Malik said.

The former captain suggested Babar Azam to leave captaincy and focus only on his batting. Malik believes that the star batter can perform better without the burden of captaincy on his shoulders.

“As for his captaincy, my firm stance is that he should play only as a player. That’s my opinion. When he plays as a player, he can do wonders for the team. He should stay away from leadership,” he further added.

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When questioned about who should take over as the white-ball captain if not Babar, Malik expressed his disapproval of appointing a fast bowler as the captain in modern-day cricket, citing concerns about their workload.

He then suggested Fakhar as a potential candidate for captaincy, emphasizing his batting capabilities, which align with the demands of modern-day cricket.

“According to today’s fearless cricket, Fakhar Zaman should be considered for white ball captaincy because he has the leadership capacity,” he concluded.

It is worth noting that former captain Younis Khan also suggested Fakhar Zaman as a new candidate to fill in the shoes of Babar Azam.

“Why can’t Fakhar Zaman be the captain of the side isn’t he a performer? Didn’t he do well in the last 50-over World Cup? Who is that one player who gave us hope? Zaman started the 2023 World Cup in India poorly however, in the second half turned his form around which coincided with Pakistan’s success”, he said while speaking on national television.

Fakhar has never captained Pakistan in his seven-year international career. He endured a dismal 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, scoring only 33 runs at an average of 8.25 and a strike rate of 110 in four games.

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