MSL 2019: Jozi Stars draft in Shoaib Malik for the upcoming season

He is the last of the two remaining current cricketers in the world who made their international debut in the 20th century. And both of them continue to play the game with a big reputation, defying age. Shoaib Malik, the former Pakistan captain who had a harrowing time during the ICC World Cup in England a few months ago because of a poor run with the bat, has now found a berth in the squad of Jozi Stars – the reigning champions in Mzansi Super League (MSL), South Africa’s domestic T20 tournament.

The 37-year-old Malik, who has quit two formats – Tests and ODIs – now, aspires to play for Pakistan in next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. The batting all-rounder is still a force in the shortest format with over 9,000 runs in 357 matches with 53 fifties. He has a strike-rate of 125 plus in the same which proves his effectiveness as a batter still today.

Malik also has 142 wickets in the T20s at an impressive average of seven. And the funny side is that Malik will replace Chris Gayle, the other player who has been playing since the 20th century after he exits the Stars after their sixth match.

Shoaib Malik excited for the season

The MSL kicks off on November 8 when Jozi Stars take on the Cape Town Blitz in Johannesburg. The same two teams had met in the final of the inaugural edition last year with Dane Vilas’ Stars winning the clash by eight wickets.

Malik was excited to be part of the MSL and said he was looking forward to playing in South Africa’s domestic cricket for the first time. The Stars were also happy to have Malik, who recently completed 20 years in international cricket, on board.

“As a batsman he is capable of fulfilling many roles within the batting order. He has had success as an opener in Tests and ODIs and has been a game-changer in limited-over matches in the No 3 role. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer in Twenty20 history behind Gayle, McCullum and Pollard, and is a good T20 spinner as well,” Jono Leaf-Wright, CEO, Central Gauteng Lions, was quoted as saying by Sport24.

“We are very excited to welcome Shoaib to our set up and seeing him excite our Jozi Stars fans with his brilliance.” Stars’ head coach Donovan Miller, who has been appointed recently, said Malik is capable of donning different roles in the team.

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