Former captain Shoaib Malik bid goodbye to ODI cricket as Pakistan ended their ICC World Cup campaign with a 94-run win against Bangladesh at the Lord’s.
The 37-year-old Malik, who was dropped after scoring 8 runs in 3 matches at the World Cup, did not play the final group match on Friday, 5 July, but came on to the field as Pakistan registered their fourth win on the trot.
The players gave Malik a guard of honour as he led the team off the field.
Malik, who scored 7,543 runs and picked up 158 wickets in 287 One Day Internationals, later took to Twitter to share a photo with the entire Pakistan squad.
‘Today I retire from One Day International cricket. Huge thank you to all the players I have played with, coaches I have trained under, family, friends, media, and sponsors. Most importantly my fans, I love you all,’ he wrote.
His last appearance came in the defeat against arch rivals India in Manchester on June 16.
Malik had been appointed Pakistan's ODI and Test captain after their 2007 World Cup campaign. And after their ODI loss to Sri Lanka at home, he had been removed from captaincy in 2009.
As an off-spinner he finished with 158 wickets, while he also captained Pakistan in 41 ODIs.
Last year, Malik had announced that he would draw curtains on his ODI cricket career after the ongoing World Cup in England and Wales.
In a press conference after the game, Malik said he would continue playing T20Is for Pakistan. He retired from Test cricket in 2015.
“I am retiring from one-day cricket. I’m sad as I’m leaving the format I loved the most but this will allow me to spend more time with my family and concentrate on the Twenty20 World Cup next year.”Shoaib Malik
Malik said he was disappointed to finish on a low note.
"Yes, I wanted to help my team win the World Cup as a senior but at times things don't go the way you think and that's part and parcel of cricket," he said.
"You don't judge a player on two or three matches, but I am still happy that the player who replaced me performed well," Malik said of Haris Sohail, who scored half-centuries against South Africa and New Zealand.
"I never thought that I will play 20 years for Pakistan but when you play with hard work and honesty you achieve the best and that happened with me.
"I am satisfied with my ODI career and winning the Champions Trophy has been the highlight of my ODI career," he added of Pakistan's triumph in England two years ago.
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