Pakistan set to recall Shoaib Malik for Asia Cup 2022 - Reports

According to reports, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik is all set to make a return to the Pakistan team for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022. The tournament will be played after a gap of four years and will start on 27 August in the UAE. Malik last represented the Pakistani national team in a T20I on 21 November 2021 against Bangladesh in Mirpur.

Before that, Malik was a part of the Pakistan squad for the 20-20 world cup which had an incredible run in the tournament as they reached the semi-finals of the mega event and were also the firm favourites to win the title. Pakistan’s unbeaten journey in the tournament ended in the semi-finals as they were knocked out by the eventual champions Australia.

The spin-allrounder only scored 101 runs in the tournament and had one game-changing knock of 54 in 18 balls against Scotland.

Malik has played 124 T20 internationals in his career, scoring 2435 runs at an average of 31.21 and a strike rate of 125. The right-handed batter has scored nine half-centuries in the format. He has also picked up 28 wickets at an average of 24 and an economy rate of 7.10. The off-spinner’s best bowling figures are 2/7.

Malik has been a handy all-rounder in the format providing the much-needed balance to various teams in franchise T20 leagues. The 40-year-old is the oldest active player in international cricket at the moment with a career spanning over 23 years. He made his international debut way back in 1999 in an ODI against West Indies in Sharjah.

The Asia cup is making a return after a gap of four years. India are the current title holders of the Asia cup as they won the last edition held in U.A.E in 2018. The Men-in-blue have also won the trophy seven times out of the total 14 editions so far. Sri Lanka have five titles to their name, while Pakistan have two.