Shoaib Malik has called for greater respect from the Pakistani media after denying he broke a team curfew ahead of his side’s Cricket World Cup defeat to India.

A video was widely circulated on social media in the aftermath of India’s win apparently showing a group of people, including Malik and his tennis player wife Sania Mirza, eating dinner at a shisha lounge.

The Pakistan Cricket Board was quick to confirm that the footage was taken two days before the Old Trafford game, an 89-run victory for the Indians which maintained their 100% record against Pakistan in World Cup cricket.

And Malik, whose second successive duck did little to spare him the anger of some Pakistan supporters on Twitter, later issued his own response.

“When will Pak media be accountable for their credibility by our courts?!”, the 287-cap all-rounder said.

“Having served my country for +20 years in Intl Cricket, it’s sad that I have to clarify things related to my personal life. The videos are from 13th June and not 15th.”

Twitter cracks me up ? and some ppl for sure .. you guys really need other mediums of taking your frustrations out ..
peace out guys ✌? it’s break time ?

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) June 17, 2019

Mirza was also targeted by users of the social networking site, prompting Malik to say, “On behalf of all athletes I would like to request media and people to maintain respect levels in regards to our families, who should not be dragged into petty discussions at will. It’s not a nice thing to do.”

Pakistan are ninth in the 10-team table having won just one of their first five matches, although there is a measure of hope in the history books for beleaguered captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and his players: Imran Khan’s eventual champions had an identical record after five matches of the 1992 tournament.

South Africa, also on three points, are Pakistan’s next opponents on Sunday.