Karachi, Jan 21(ANI): Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, who has been omitted from the national squad for next month's World Cup, says his wife and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has been very supportive during this most difficult phase of his career.
"Sania, being herself as a sports woman, knows how to face this kind of situation. She had been through some ups and down as well. I am very lucky to have Sania as my wife who is sporting and helping me at every step to handle all this," said Malik in an exclusive interview with Deutsche Welle Urdu service.
He also said playing in the ICC World Cup is the utmost desire of every cricketer in the world.
"And it becomes more disappointing when one is ignored when one is in the best form of his life. I have never been in form like this before in 11 years of my international career the way I played in the recently concluded Quaid Trophy," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying to the German radio broadcaster.
Malik was the second top scorer of Quaid Trophy with 799 runs in only 6 matches.
"Cricket is my passion. I thought I could have won this World Cup for Pakistan and that is why it is very difficult to make myself understand. But then its not the end of the world and cricket oo. I will not leave playing cricket and try to cash in other opportunities come my way by playing domestic cricket and events outside the country," he said
Malik also denied the media reports that an amount of 90,000 pounds, which was transferred from India to his British account, was the main reason behind the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to sideline him from the World Cup squad.
"I have not hidden any thing from the PCB integrity committee...I gave every detail of my Pakistani and foreign assets and bank accounts to the PCB, but yet I was not selected. I won't start firing at any one because its not my nature, and I always try to remain away from controversies," the cricketer maintained.
On the national team's prospects in the forthcoming World Cup, Malik suggested that Pakistan should rely on senior players.
"In an mega event like World Cup, only seniors can take pressure of the situations and that's why I think Pakistan should be relying on experienced players," he concluded. (ANI)
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