ISLAMABAD, Mar 3 (APP):Peshawar Zalmi batsman Shoaib Malik has lauded the crowd for showing up to the stadiums in numbers, for the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 matches, saying it was sending a very good message to the whole world that Pakistan was a safe and sports loving nation.
“Even though the people face a bit difficulty in coming to the stadiums but they have been turning up in masses to the venues which is sending a very good message to the whole world. It shows that the Pakistani nation loves the visiting foreign players in PSL.
The overseas players are also praising Pakistan and we are heading in the right direction,” he said at the post-match conference at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi.
Karachi Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi in the HBL PSL 2020 at Pindi Stadium by six wickets on Monday but Malik played a resilient 68-run innings (55 balls, six fours, one six) to ensure Zalmi at least went past the 150-run mark.
Speaking about the match, Malik said we must have scored 180 plus runs on the Pindi pitches but we lost early wickets.
“When you lose early wickets then scoring a 150 total even looks difficult. However, Mohammad Amir bowled very well and the whole Karachi Kings bowling attack was good,” he said.
Amir bagged four wickets for 25 while Chris Jordan took 2 for 33.
To a question, he said he can compete with a youngster when it comes to fitness, but he has no plans to play tests.
“I will decide about my fate whether to continue with international cricket or not as the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup comes close.
But I will continue playing leagues as I have signed a two year contract,” he said.
When asked about PSL was all about new talent and youngsters coming to fore, Malik said I don’t judge talent that easy.
“We will come to know about the consistent talented players at least after 7 to 8 matches are played of each team,” he said.
Malik said his wife and India tennis star Sania Mirza was to visit Pakistan but was busy due to her international commitments.
To a question, he said he was unaware of Zalmi’s Skipper Darren Sammy’s tweet. “Ups and down come in a team but we still need improvement and our think tank will sit and decide about that,” he said.
Karachi Kings’ Alex Hales who hit 49 runs against Zalmi, said losses happen in T20 cricket. “We lost to two very strong teams then we came back together and won two games in two days,” he said.
He said he wanted to contribute as much runs he can. “T20 cricket is about momentum and now with these wins we are confidently heading to the next games.
I am looking to keep improving. I feel the best of my years are ahead of me and I am still getting better each year,” he said.