I’m fitter than any other young cricketer: Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik is one of the only two senior players featuring in this year’s World Cup.

Malik has been playing one day international (ODI) cricket since 1999 and even to this day, he is still very particular about his fitness regimen.

On this topic, he told BBC Urdu that “the secret behind his fitness is praying five times a day.”

“When you play too much, you start to realise what kind of fitness routine your body needs so that you can keep your performance consistent,” he said.

He further said that “my own belief is that when you play as a senior cricketer, you should not be a burden on your team.”

Malik said it is his belief that his success lies in his fitness and that he wants to be “more fit than any other young cricketer in the team”.

“I try my best to compete more with the young cricketers on the team who are the fittest,” he added.

According to the 37-year-old all-rounder, he gets the most satisfaction out of the fact that the captain puts him on important positions in the field during fielding.

“You get to know yourself and how useful you are to the team. If you play on the defensive and not with the mindset of winning then there is not point of playing the match.”

This is the fifth World Cup Malik will be playing in his 20-year career; however the last one he played was the 2007 World Cup.

In 2003, he was selected by the selection committee but at the last moment his position was given to another player.

He was also on the sidelines in the 2011 and 2015 World Cup, so this World Cup holds a lot of importance for him.

“Yes it does feel bad but I am not the type of person who holds on to things from the past. There are a lot of things in life which you want to do but cannot. But this time I got the chance to play and it will be my final World Cup.”

“I have already won World T20 and Champions Trophy. The World Cup is the only event which I haven’t won so far. I have complete faith in myself and in the Pakistan team that they will give a great performance.”

After playing the World T20 2020, Malik wants to retire from international cricket.

“I have my eyes on the World T20 and my performance will definitely depend on my fitness. I want to end my career with playing the World T20.”