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  • My child won't be Pakistani or Indian national: Shoaib Malik

    All-rounder Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza File photo All-rounder Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza

    All-rounder Shoaib Malik has said his child will neither have Pakistani nor Indian nationality but of some other country.

    He said his wife Sania was pregnant and expecting a baby soon. “I have taken permission from the team management to remain with my wife at the time of birth,” he told media at the Gaddafi Stadium.

    Malik said it was going to be a memorable moment of his life to become a father. He appealed to his fans to pray for his wife and baby at the special moment.

    He also urged the national team to bring their ODI performance at par with the Test cricket’s in the United Arab Emirates, when it open its campaign in the Asia Cup on Sept 15.

    “It is on record that our team performs well in the test format in the UAE whereas its performance in the one day cricket is not of that level, and there is dire need to bring improvement in its 50-over game for achieving our set target in the Cup,” he said.

    The stylish all-rounder once again made it clear that the World Cup in 2019 (ODI) and World Cup T20 will be his last cricket assignments, but gave an indication to quit the game earlier from these two mega events.

    “It all depends on my fitness and performance and if in between a player better than me gets into the team, I will call it a day,” he said.

    “Nowadays, one day cricket has become more or less T20 thrilling format of the game, as the first three batsmen with their solid innings or a specific bowler with two or three wickets breakthrough adds to the performance of their team and can turn the fate of the match,” he asserted.

    The veteran all-rounder was of the view that Pakistan team should not take extra pressure while playing India in the Asia Cup match on September 19 and take it as a routine and normal game.

    “Without any doubt, Pak-India matches have the status of nerve-wrecking encounters as they are being watched around the globe by millions of diehard lovers of the game.

    “And in such circumstances if a player takes extra pressure regarding the match, it is obvious that he may not be able to perform up to a certain level,” he said.

    He urged fellow players to take the match easy with a mindset of a performing in a routine game and exhibit their natural game.

    “It is a hard fact that Pak-India matches take place after a long gap, which makes such ties very important and the match winning team’s top performer gains the status of a hero,” he said.

    “If both the countries play cricket on frequently, these matches will not be considered of high importance,” he added.
    Shoaib Malik said bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India not only promotes cricket but also helps bring closer the peoples of the two countries.

    He called for having cricket events on regular basis between Pakistan and India.