ICC CWC'19: 'Shoaib Malik deserves a farewell dinner and not match', says Wasim Akram

Mumbai: Former legendary pacer Wasim Akram picked a farewell dinner over a farewell game for batting all rounder Shoaib Malik. Malik plans on retiring after the World Cup.

"Of course, he had announced that he will retire after the World Cup. Unfortunately, it has not ended on a high note. I think he deserved to end his career on a high as he has done a lot for Pakistan cricket," said Akram while speaking to a Pakistani journalist.

"He did not play many matches in the World Cup. He got out twice on duck, but this can happen to any player. We should always remember his services as he has won Pakistan many matches. He is a nice guy, so let's send him a nice farewell, for once. I know he could not perform in this World Cup, but he has performed over the years for Pakistan," he added.

Speaking about whether Shoaib Malik deserved a farewell match, Akram had this to say- "This is not club cricket where you can ask a player to play a one-day match. We can rather organize a farewell dinner for him."

37-year old Malik played in just three of Pakistan’s eight matches and scored only eight runs in one of them, while being dismissed for a duck in the other two.

Shoaib Malik was one of the Pakistan players put under the crooshairs when the team lost to India on June 16. Malik was accused of partying and socializing a night before the match along with the other accused players.

However Malik denied these allegations and expressed his disappointment over having to explain his personal life even after serving the Pakistan team for over 20 years.