shoaib-malik-questions-pakistani-players-professionalism

In the aftermath of Pakistan’s exit from the ICC World Cup 2023, seasoned all-rounder Shoaib Malik didn’t mince his words as he criticized the professionalism of Pakistani players following their 93-run defeat to England in Kolkata.

With a wealth of experience from 446 international matches, Malik expressed his discontent on a local sports show, questioning the use of travelling as an excuse for the team’s performance. He emphasized that every team in the mega event had to deal with travel, highlighting India’s hectic schedule.

“Travelling is an excuse. The whole world is travelling. Look at India’s calendar. Their pacers didn’t lose pace and swing. It is the professionalism, which is missing in our team,” Shoaib Malik said.

Malik dismissed travel as a factor, attributing the team’s struggles to a lack of professionalism. He pointed out the absence of essential recovery tools, citing the example of Glenn Maxwell, who played through severe cramps with the aid of specialized gels.

Source: X (formerly Twitter)

Furthermore, Malik delved into the selection process, suggesting that picking players based on the performance of a single match in the PSL could lead to pressure-induced cramps during crucial moments in high-stakes tournaments.

Notably, despite a promising start in the tournament with consecutive victories against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s campaign took a downturn with a four-match losing streak—a historic first in their World Cup history. The final blow came with a defeat against England, sealing their exit from the tournament.

This marks Pakistan’s fifth failure to qualify for a World Cup semi-final this century, with their last appearance in the 2011 World Cup semi-final against India ending in defeat.

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