Shoaib Malik opts to make way for youngsters in Pakistan’s Test team

The Pakistan all-rounder missed not being in the Test team for five years and takes a bow ‘at the right time’ to focus on the 2019 World Cup, writes Paul Radley.

The off-breaks of Shoaib Malik, centre, will come in handy for Pakistan on the final two days of the Sharjah Test before he bows out of the game’s longest format. Jason O’Brien / Reuters

SHARJAH // Two weeks after making a double century on his reappearance after five years in the wilderness, and with the final match of the series delicately poised, Shoaib Malik chose to announce his Test retirement on Tuesday night.

The all-rounder said he wants to focus on the limited-overs game, in particular giving himself the best shot at playing in the 2019 World Cup in England.

He also suggested some selfless reasons, saying there are enough young cricketers in Pakistan worthy of their chance at this level.

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For all that, though, his timing seemed bizarre. He had just made a golden duck in Pakistan’s second innings, meaning he has managed 47 runs in the five innings since his 245 in Abu Dhabi in the first Test.

His fortunes with the ball had contrasted wildly to that, though. He harried England’s first innings to a close with figures of four for 33, the best of his 35-match Test career.

That meant he was Pakistan’s most successful bowler here, despite him being the least frequently used by captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

And his off-breaks will likely be an important weapon for the hosts, in the fourth innings of what is now his final Test. The Malik enigma is no closer to being solved, just as he makes his exit from this stage.

“I didn’t play Test cricket for five years, and those were the years I wanted to play Test cricket,” Malik said.

“Taking retirement from Test cricket after scoring a double hundred, I think this is the right time because we have some good youngsters knocking on the door.

“They can come in the team and get adjusted. Obviously there is disappointment because I didn’t get to play Test cricket for those five years, but this is part of life.”

Malik’s unexpected call capped another absorbing day, which had ended with Pakistan holding a lead of 72 with seven wickets left.

Mohammed Hafeez reached stumps undefeated on 97, but was reliant on the foibles of the Decision Review System for a life.

He was given out caught behind off James Anderson on two, but the decision was reversed by Paul Reiffel, the television official.

He made the most of his chance. In a Test where scoring has proved tricky, especially against England’s indefatigable pacemen Anderson and Stuart Broad, Hafeez was able to rise above.

His innings has included nine fours and three sixes so far. To give some context, Younis Khan’s fine-leg glance for four off Broad late in the day was the only other boundary a Pakistani batsman had managed in the innings.

Earlier, Ben Stokes had come out to bat at No 11 for England despite barely being able to hold the bat because of the effects of a collarbone injury that will prevent him from either bowling or fielding again in the Test.

He was out for nought, but it is possible the 10 runs Broad eked out at the other end while he was there could count for something in the final count up.

“He showed a lot of guts and character, exactly what everyone else in the team would do,” James Taylor, who top scored for England with 76, said of Stokes.

“He is a tough boy. He showed guts to try to battle it out, and you never know how important those 10 runs that him and Broady put on might be. That was massive for the team and it shows what we are about.”

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