Abdul Razzaq Criticizes Shoaib Malik's Innings as Selfish in PSL 9 Clash

Former cricketer Abdul Razzaq has taken a swipe at Shoaib Malik, accusing him of playing a selfish inning in a recent match between Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 9.

Despite Shoaib Malik's noteworthy innings of 53 runs off 35 deliveries, Razzaq expressed his opinion that Malik prioritized his individual performance over the team's interests. Razzaq commented, "Shoaib Malik has been playing for many years. His innings could be good for himself, not for the team. A player is someone who plays for a team. In this kind of cricket, you can't sustain pressure after 42 or 43 years," during an appearance on the Geo News program 'Harna Mana Hai.'

In the match, Multan Sultans secured a convincing 55-run victory over Karachi Kings at the Multan Cricket Stadium. While Malik emerged as the top performer, scoring 54 runs off 35 balls, it wasn't enough for Karachi Kings to clinch victory, as Multan Sultans' bowlers successfully defended a target of 186 by restricting Kings to 130/8.

During Karachi Kings' innings, Malik formed a crucial partnership with skipper Shan Masood, contributing 52 runs for the third wicket. However, the recovery efforts were halted when Masood was dismissed by Usama Mir in the ninth over.

After the captain's departure, Malik continued with a one-sided partnership alongside Mohammad Nawaz, adding 37 runs. Nevertheless, Abbas Afridi struck back, dismissing Malik, who remained the top-scorer for Karachi Kings with 53 off 35 deliveries, featuring five boundaries and two sixes.

Malik, aware of the mounting run rate required, accelerated his innings with a six and two boundaries against deliveries by Iftikhar Ahmed in the 12th over. He reached his 50th run in the 13th over but was ultimately dismissed by Abbas Afridi.

The critique from Abdul Razzaq highlights the ongoing debates surrounding individual versus team-oriented play in cricket, adding an interesting dimension to the PSL 9 narrative.