'Mera kaam hain cricket khelna' - Shoaib Malik breaks silence on exclusion from Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad

Former Pakistan captain and star all-rounder Shoaib Malik has opened up on his exclusion from the T20 World Cup team for the tournament in Australia. The 40-year-old all-rounder was an integral part of the Pakistan squad in the previous year’s edition.

However, this year the management decided to drop the veteran for the mega ICC event, set to commence from October 16. While his exclusion came across as a surprise to many, some also felt the need to drop the player considering his age and the lookout for fresh faces in the squad.

I don't have any problem with anyone: Shoaib Malik

The former skipper holds the record for playing the most number of T20Is for Pakistan, however, Malik was dropped by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the 15-member squad traveling to Australia.

"Dekhiye mera kaam hain cricket khelna jaha pe bhi mujhe opportunity mile. Select karna, na karna woh team management, selection committee ya PCB ka hain. Mera hain ki jaha opportunity mile main woh avail karne ki koshish karu and acha perform karne ki koshish karu. Mujhe kisise koi problem nehi hain. Main kisike koi against nehi hu kyumki positive rehna has been a major reason behind the success in my career. (See, my job is to play cricket wherever I get the opportunity. To select me or me is a team management, selection committee, and PCB’s job. My aim is to do well wherever I get the chance. I don’t have any problems with anybody. I am not against anybody because remaining positive has been a major reason behind my success)," Malik told Samaa RV.

Malik last donned the green outfit of the national side in a T20I fixture against Bangladesh last November after the T20 World Cup. Furthermore, he also relished an impressive season in the 2022 Pakistan Super League, scoring 401 runs in 11 outings at a strike rate of 137.32, with three fifties.