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Shoaib Malik returns home from England tour citing personal reasons; will rejoin
Shoaib Malik is certain to miss the tour opening one-off T20I against England on 5th May and the first of the five ODIs against the hosts on May 8th.
Shoaib Malik has decided to fly back home from Pakistan’s England tour due to personal reasons. The all-rounder is expected to rejoin the team in 10 days’ time, confirmed the Pakistan Cricket Board. Malik’s decision came hours before Pakistan’s second tour game against Northamptonshire on Monday.
Malik’s 10-day absence means he is certain to miss the tour opening one-off T20I against England on 5th May and the first of the five ODIs against the hosts on May 8th. Malik might return only before the second ODI at Southampton on May 11.
“The Pakistan cricket team management has given leave to Shoaib Malik so that he can return home to deal with a personal issue. He is expected to rejoin the team in 10 days’ time,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement on Monday.
PCB, however, refused to give further details on Malik’s unavailability. “The PCB will not be making any further comments and fully expects all concerned to respect Shoaib’s privacy,” the statement added.
Malik had got out for only 4 in Pakistan’s first tour game against Kent which they ended up winning by 100 runs thanks to Imad wasim’s career-best List A score of 117.
Pakistan will play a one-off T20I and a five-match ODI series against hosts England before the World Cup begins from May 30. Malik has already confirmed that the upcoming ODI World Cup in England will be his last tryst with a world event. “This will be my last World Cup and I want Pakistan to win it. I believe there is a fantastic combination of young and senior players in this squad,” Malik had said earlier.
Pakistan will play two warm-up World Cup games against Afghanistan on May 24 and Bangladesh on May 26, before taking on the West Indies in their first World Cup match in Nottingham on May 31.
