Kohli and Raina have improved a lot after playing IPL: Shoaib Malik

Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has attributed the improvement of Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina to playing IPL cricket. The IPL, played under the heat of the Indian summer has given many a youngster an opportunity to face world class opposition while the senior pros from different countries have a chance to hone their big-hitting skills.

While comparing the PSL to the IPL, Shoaib Malik stated that he wanted to see the PSL reaching the heights of the Indian Premier League. “It is going to take a bit of time to come to a level where rest of the world is. If you look at successful Indian players like Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, you could figure it out that they have improved a lot after they started playing IPL.”

PSL will be the same thing. Yes, we are behind at the moment but the fact is we have a lot of youngsters. We are learning. It is a great opportunity for us to do well and bring Pakistan where the rest of the world is,” Malik added.

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Speaking regarding Pakistan’s chances in the upcoming World T20, Malik said that it was indeed a good thing that the Pakistan side was an underdog. “It’s good that we’re underdogs and that gives you a lot of confidence at the same time. We are here to do well,” Malik said at the open media session here on Sunday.”

People were not expecting us to do well and win it but we won that. Same thing happened in 2007 World T20 when we did well before losing to India in the final. In 2009, we were not that big as a team but still we won. The same is the case going into this edition,” he said.

Finally, when asked about the controversy surrounding the Indo-Pak match, Malik said that he was un-fluttered, stating that he was present only to play cricket, nothing sinister.

“It is not that difficult. When I am playing against India I don’t think internally. It is media which has created a lot of hype for this match,” he concluded.