Malik never blamed team management

KARACHI: Fearing disciplinary action from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shoaib Malik has backtracked on his criticism of the team management, saying his comments on constant shuffling of the side’s batting order were misunderstood

In an interview, Malik said he never meant to hurt anyone or be critical about the team management.

‘That was never my intention. I just spoke on a pure cricketing matter with a point of view of giving some positive input but my statement came out the wrong way,’ he said. Malik’s statement comes after the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said the senior batsman’s comments were being reviewed. ‘I am reviewing what Malik has had to say and will take a decision on it by Monday,’ Ijaz told reporters in Lahore. Malik had made it clear that he would no longer like to open the innings or bat at number three in future and felt the team management created uncertainty among the players by shuffling the batting order a lot. The former Pakistan captain has now clarified that he never meant to violate the PCB’s code of conduct. Malik said he did express his displeasure over the continuous shuffling of batting order in the ICC Champions Trophy but it didn’t meant that he had any axe to grind with the captain or the coach. ‘I am totally satisfied with Younis Khan’s captaincy and will continue to support any decision of the team management,’ he said. ‘I am always available to bat at any position if my team needs me to do this. But what I meant to say was there should be no unnecessary shuffling of the batting order as it disturbs the players,’ he added. Malik insisted he was a team man and as a senior player would continue to support the captain and coach. ‘I am a team man and if my team needs me to bat at a certain position I will do it in future also,’ he said.—Agencies