London: Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik on Friday announced his retirement from One Day International cricket.
Malik represented Pakistan in 35 Tests, 287 ODIs and 111 T20Is. He was among one of the last remaining active limited overs players who made their debut in the 20th century.
Other than Malik, hard-hitting West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle, who is also expected to hang his boots after Windies' India tour, was the only other player to play in the ongoing 2019 World Cup and to have made his debut in the 1990s.
“I am retiring from ODI cricket. I had made this decision a few years ago, that I would retire after Pakistan’s last World Cup match,” Malik said at the press conference after Pakistan beat Bangladesh in their last league match.
“I am sad to be leaving a format I once loved but I am happy that I will now get to spend more time with my family. This will also allow me to focus on T20s,” said Malik added.
Malik made his ODI debut in October 1999 against West Indies at Sharjah. Though Malik was not included in Pakistan's playing XI for his last match in the green jersey, he was given a guard of honour by his teammates after the match.
Shaheen Afridi, who won the award for Man of the Match, was seen breaking away from hugs to join the guard of honour in a video shared by the official Twitter handle of ICC.
