Shoaib Malik's departure for England delayed as India extends ban on international flights till July 31

The Pakistan team had departed to England last month and started their preparations for the upcoming series against the three lions. Although the veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik has also been picked in the 29-member squad for the England tour, he did not travel with the team as he was set to meet his immediate family.

It’s a well-known fact that Indian Tennis star Sania Mirza got married to Shoaib Malik back in 2010. Since Sania lives in Hyderabad and Shoaib mostly stays at his hometown Sialkot in Pakistan, they didn’t get much time to spend with each other. Malik had not met his wife Sania Mirza and son for five months due to the COVID-19 restrictions imposed around the world and requested the board to give him some time off before the series against England.

Shoaib Malik’s departure for England delayed

As per a recent report from Cricket Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded softly and had given special dispensation to Shoaib Malik by allowing him to join the national team in England after spending time with his immediate family – Sania Mirza and one-year-old son, Izhaan Mirza Malik.

Earlier he was given time until July 24 but his departure for England has been delayed further until the second week of August after India extended the ban on international flights until July 31, which, in turn, has delayed a planned family reunion.

PCB had also given Malik four-week off to meet his wife and he is expected to fly to England in August for the three-match T20I series to join with his teammates. “When Shoaib Malik joins the squad for the T20I series, which starts on August 28 in Manchester, the team management will release a player,” the report added.

The former Pakistan captain retired from Tests and pulled himself out from ODIs last year after the World Cup in England but is eyeing a spot in the squad for T20 World Cup, which is postponed to next year. The veteran has played 113 T20 Internationals representing the country and has scored 2321 runs that include 8 fifties in the shorter format of the game.