You may have known the fact that Shoaib Malik, who was born in Pakistan’s Multan city, went on to play 60 Tests, 228 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 4 T20 Internationals (T20Is) for his national team but did you know that he used to be an off-spinner as well? Here are 13 interesting facts about Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik.
1) Shoaib Malik was born on 1st February 1983
Shoaib was born on 1st February 1983 and made his international debut in 2000. He started out as an off-spinner and later upgraded his batting skills to become an all-rounder. One of his most memorable performances includes scoring a century (100) against Australia at Lords (Lords Cricket Ground) in 2003.
2) His full name is Shoaib Malik Mohammad
Shoaib Malik is a famous cricketer from Pakistan. He was born on January 14, 1977, in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. He is a right-arm off-spinner and a middle-order batsman. The 13 interesting facts about him are:
1) He started out as an off-spinner and later upgraded his batting skills to become an all-rounder.
2) He captained the national team for one game against South Africa on May 7, 2003.
3) His full name is Shoaib Malik Mohammad: he was born on January 14th, 1977 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
3) He started playing cricket at the age of 16
1) He has been playing cricket since he was 16 years old.
2) In 2001, he became the youngest player ever to play for Pakistan in a Test match at age 18.
3) His favorite fast bowling opponent is Indian legend Anil Kumble because they have faced each other many times and due to their contrasting styles they always provide exciting matches.
4) Malik made his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2001
Malik made his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2001. He took the first wicket of the match and went on to take four wickets in total. He is considered one of Pakistan’s most flexible players, performing various roles including opening the innings, batting in the middle order, and coming in as a number 11. In 2002, he was selected for two Tests against Australia which were played at the home grounds at Karachi and Multan.
5) He scored a century on his Test debut
In 2000, he became the youngest player to score a century on his debut in Test cricket at the age of 18 years and 222 days. Pakistan won by an innings and 175 runs and this was the first time that an Asian country had achieved such a victory over Australia. He scored 115 not out in Pakistan’s second innings, with Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan taking 13 wickets in the match.
6) Malik was the first Pakistani batsman to score a double century in Day Internationals
Malik was the first Pakistani batsman to score a double century in One Day Internationals when he made an unbeaten 214 against South Africa during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
He has also been involved in two of the three highest individual innings totals in One Day Internationals (400 not out and 337). He is one of only six players with more than 8,000 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs. He is third on the list for most ODI runs without playing at least 20 matches.
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7) Malik is the only Pakistani cricketer to have played 100 Test matches
He is the only Pakistani cricketer to have played 100 Test matches, as well as the first player to score 10,000 Test runs for Pakistan. His career batting average of 40.95 is the highest by any Pakistan batsman in Test cricket and he has a century in every Test-playing nation.
He also has the distinction of being one of two players (the other being Jacques Kallis) who have scored over 20,000 runs without a double century to their name.
8) He has also played more than 350 ODIs
In total, he has played more than 350 ODIs with 8200 runs at a strike rate of 82.5 per 100 balls. He also has 99 ODI wickets to his name and hit two centuries in ODIs.
9) Malik has represented Pakistan in two World Cups
Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik started out as an off-spinner and later upgraded his batting skills to become an all-rounder. Malik has represented Pakistan in two World Cups, being part of the winning squad in 1992 and then falling short at the quarterfinal stage 12 years later when he was still playing a significant role with both bat and ball.
10) He was part of the Pakistan team that won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20
He was also a member of the Pakistan team that won the ICC World Twenty20 in 2009. As an opening batsman, he scored 115 runs off 110 balls and played a crucial part in winning the final against Sri Lanka. When batting as an opener, his highest score is 115 not out which he scored off 110 deliveries against Sri Lanka in the world cup 2010 semi-final match.
11) Malik was named captain of Pakistan’s Twenty20 International team in 2010
Malik was initially a slow off-spinner who then upgraded his batting skills to become an all-rounder. He is regarded as a flexible player and has performed various roles including opening the innings, batting in the middle order, and coming in as a number 11. In 2010 he became captain of Pakistan’s Twenty20 International team after Shahid Afridi stepped down.
12) In 2012, Malik announced his retirement from ODIs
Malik announced his retirement from ODIs in November 2012, stating that he wanted to go out on a high. He was the second most successful batsman in international cricket at the time of his ODI retirement, with a batting average of 45.21, and had scored more centuries than any other player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Pakistan players of all time.
13) Malik continues to play Test cricket and is currently the highest run-scorer for Pakistan in the format
Malik holds the record for the most Test runs by a Pakistani batsman (4,287) and also has the most Test centuries for his country. He is also the first player to score centuries in both innings of a Test match as well as against all eleven other Test-playing nations.
In 2006 he scored an unbeaten century in the third final of the ICC Champions Trophy tournament, setting a world record for the highest individual score in the final of any ICC ODI competition. His batting average (52.07) is the third highest amongst Pakistanis with at least 1000 runs, behind Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul Haq.
