Watch: “I have no interest…”- Shoaib Malik reacts to his playing future for Pakistan ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
The veteran spin all-rounder of the Pakistan Cricket Team, Shoaib Malik, has reacted to his playing future for the national side besides commenting in the ongoing International League T20 (ILT20) 2025/26.
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Shoaib Malik, the veteran Pakistan batter who featured for the national side in 22 years across formats in international cricket, has smashed 7534 runs in 258 innings in the ODI cricket at an average of 34.55 and a strike rate of 81.90 with the help of 44 half-centuries and nine centuries at the best score of 143 as the last game of the format for him came in the 2015 World Cup.
In terms of the red-ball game, Malik has notched up 1898 runs in 60 innings at an average of 35.14 and a strike rate of 45.67 with the help of three centuries and eight half-centuries at the best score of 245. His last five-day clash came against England at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Ground in 2015. Now, the million-dollar question remains whether he would return to Pakistan.
“I am still fit and good enough, and there is no plan to retire. But yes, having said that, I have already said that I have no interest in playing for Pakistan. That I have already said two years ago. But wherever there are other opportunities for me, I will go and play,” Malik expressed during the ongoing ILT20 2025/26.
Shoaib Malik not interested in returning to playing for Pakistan
In terms of the shortest format, Malik has a massive experience in T20s with 13571 runs in 515 innings at an average of 35.99 and a strike rate of 127.24 with the help of 83 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 95 runs. He recently played in the 2025 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
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“My personal plans are quite simple. Even though I am commenting here in the ILT20, I still play cricket. Yes, I have reduced some league cricket. I will play whenever I get the chance to feature for any league and team.” Malik shed light.
Pakistan’s next series will be the three-match series against Sri Lanka in T20Is before they head into the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka as they play the curtain raiser in Colombo.
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