Lahore: “I needed it,” former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malek said after a match-winning innings of 112 set up his team’s 41-run win over Zimbabwe in the first One-day International on Tuesday night. “I would like to take some names here. My number was at five but Waqar (Younis) said we have the start, so you take over. I want to thank Mushtaq Ahmad as well for his belief and at the end of the day the team won,” he added with visible relief on his face.
Malek’s comeback story didn’t have a smooth take-off with scores of 7 and 7 in the two T20s against Zimbabwe, who backed their courageous decision to become the first team to tour Pakistan since the 2009 Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan team.
On Tuesday, Malek cracked a 76-ball 112 in the first ODI of the series that has brought smiles back to the cricket-starved Pakistan fans. “You need a lot of backing from the management as well. I would like to carry on my form and do well for my country,” Malek, 33, said.
The right-hander’s whirlwind knock, which helped Pakistan erect the gigantic total of 375 for three, included 12 fours and two sixes during his stay in the middle of Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Zimbabwe then made a fist of it reaching 334 for 5 thanks to skipper Elton Chigumbura’s counter-attacking 117 off 95 balls.
“I have been working on my bowling and I want to play as an all-rounder. I want to bowl, do well for the team. It adds extra edge to the team as well,” added.
Zimbabwe’s spirited chase was checked by Wahab Riaz’s spell of three for 47 and the Zimbabwe skipper admitted they lost momentum in the death overs of their steep ask.
“I thought we played well. Just unfortunate that in the last seven overs, we didn’t go out and get the score,” Chigumbura said. “[I am] Delighted with my innings and hopefully I can get more in the next games to come. I thought we started well, but maybe towards the end we didn’t execute our plans well. [Our bowlers] Didn’t bowl yorkers; that’s the part of the game we need to work on.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket chief Shaharyar Khan hailed the great spirit shown by fans since international cricket returned after a six-year hiatus, promising to gradually attract more teams to compete in the country.
“The response is great and beyond expectations,” Khan told media on the sidelines of the first one-day match in Lahore.
“The crowds have been magnificent. People have overcome the security hassles but no one complained and put up a disciplined show and we will definitely build on that gradually.”
Khan, a former diplomat, said the cricketing world have also responded positively.
Khan said the sport’s governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) had been in touch. “Giles Clarke (former chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board) and ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan phoned me and congratulated me on the revival of cricket in Pakistan,” said Khan.
