The National's Sport cover for the Wednesday, October 14 issue, featuring Shoaib Malik and Pakistan as they raced into commanding position over England on Day 1.
Osman Samiuddin touches on the duelling Test revivals of Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez that were on display on Tuesday:
“It took some time to register that this was only the sixth Test Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik have played with each other. Tuesday, over 12 years after Hafeez joined Malik as a Pakistan Test player, was the first time the pair had actually batted together.
“Both have been around for so long that it feels like they should have played together more, and sometimes that they have played together forever.
“They have shadowed each other’s careers, cagily at times, each feasting on the other’s misfortune. They have replaced each other in the side.
“Both have captained. Both have never been sure of what kind of player they truly are. Both have been one thing at one time, quite another at another. Both have suffered from the curse of their utility and both have benefited with prolonged careers because of it. Both have even been reported for their bowling actions.
“Combined as one perhaps, they could have been a great player for Pakistan.”
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