Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan all-rounder, is set to miss a few matches of their tour of the United Kingdom, including the one-off T20I and the first ODI against England, after he was granted a 10-day leave for a “personal issue”.
Malik will miss the T20I on Sunday, May 5, and the first ODI at The Oval on May 8, apart from their final tour game against Leicestershire on May 1. He also sat out of the second tour match against Northamptonshire.
PCB didn’t reveal the details behind Malik’s leave. Their statement simply read: “The Pakistan cricket team management has given leave to Shoaib Malik so that he can return home to deal with a personal issue. He is expected to rejoin the team in 10 days’ time.
The Pakistan cricket team management has given leave to Shoaib Malik so that he can return home to deal with a personal issue. He is expected to rejoin the team in 10 days’ time.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 29, 2019
“The PCB will not be making any further comments and fully expects all concerned to respect Shoaib’s privacy.”
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Malik played the first tour match against Kent on Saturday, scoring a seven-ball 4 and returning 0-37 in five overs. Pakistan won the match by 100 runs, with Imad Wasim scoring a 78-ball 117*. Malik missed the subsequent match against Northamptonshire, which Pakistan won by eight wickets.
Malik is expected to rejoin the side in time for the second ODI against England in Southampton.
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Pakistan secured easy victories over Kent and Northamptonshire[/caption]
The 2019 World Cup will be Malik’s last in ODIs – he has announced his decision to retire from the format at the end of the tournament. Since his return to the side in 2015, he has scored 1991 runs at an average of 44.24 – significantly better than his career average of 35.12.
Pakistan will take on West Indies in their World Cup opener on May 31.
