Shoaib Malik is a Pakistani allrounder. He is a right-handed batsman and off-break spin bowler. He was also the captain of the Pakistani team and has played for them in all 3 formats of cricket. He won the 2009 T20 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy. He appeared in many Pakistani TV shows including The Pavilion as a panelist with Wasim Akram, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Waqar Younis, The Ultimate Muqabla as the host, and with his wife Sania Mirza in the second season of The Couple Show.
Wiki/Biography
Shoaib Malik was born on Monday, 1 February 1982 (age 40 years; as of 2022) in Sialkot, Pakistan. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. He played cricket in his locality during his childhood and attended Imran Khan’s Pepsi coaching clinics in 1993-1994 in Sialkot. His family wanted him to focus more on education; however, his father wanted him to become a cricketer. He would put his cricket kit inside his school bag and would go to cricket matches instead of his school. In 1996, he attended the trials for the Under-15 World Cup in Lahore and coach Noman Shabbir picked him up after seeing his impressive off-spin bowling.
Shoaib Malik (third from right in middle row) selected for Under-15 World Cup 1996
He made his domestic cricket debut for the Gujranwala team against Karachi and picked 5 wickets in his first match. He was selected for Pakistan-Ateam in 1997. In 1998, he played for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) team and in the Wills Cup semifinal, he took 2 wickets. Wasim Akram and Moin Khan saw his performances and advised Pakistan Cricket Board to select him for the Pakistan national team. In 1999, he was selected primarily as a bowler; however, went on to become an allrounder for Pakistan. In 2013, he joined Zarai Taraqiati Bank LTD. He has played for Sialkot Stallions and won the National T20 Cup 8 times. He has been a brand ambassador of Gillette, Toni & Guy, and Pakistan’s Population Welfare Ministry.
Physical Appearance
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight (approx.): 70 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Brown
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 40″, Waist 32″, Biceps 13″
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father was Saleem Hussain Malik alias Faqeer Hussain Malik, and his mother is Sultana Malik. His father died in 2006 after a prolonged illness. His younger brother is Adeel Malik who is also a professional cricketer. He has 2 sisters Sadaf Imran and Shazia Imran.
Shoaib Malik (left) with his mother Sultana Malik and younger brother Adeel Malik
Wife & Children
Allegedly, Shoaib Malik married Ayesha Siddiqui in 2002. He divorced her on 7 April 2010.
Shoaib Malik with his first wife Ayesha Siddiqui
On 12 April 2010, Shoaib married Indian tennis star Sania Mirza in a ceremony held in Hyderabad, India. They first met at a restaurant in Hobart, Australia, and married after 5 months of courtship. The Walima ceremony was held on 25 April 2010 at Sialkot, Pakistan. The couple has a son Izhaan Mirza Malik on 30 October 2018. In July 2021, they were given Golden Visa by the United Arab Emirates. They also hosted a reality show titled ‘The Mirza Malik Show” on Urduflix in 2022.
Shoaib Malik with his wife Sania Mirza and son Izhaan Mirza Malik
Relationships/Affairs
In November 2022, it was allegedly reported that Shoaib Malik is having an affair with a Pakistani model, actress, and YouTuber Ayesha Omar. They first met during a photo shoot for the lifestyle magazine OK Pakistan in 2021. In November 2022, sources claimed that Shoaib Malik has divorced his wife Sania Mirza due to the alleged affair.
Shoaib Malik with Ayesha Omar on the cover page of OK Pakistan Magazine
Religion
Shoaib Malik is a Muslim.
Signature/Autograph
Autograph of Shoaib Malik
Career
Test Debut
He played his debut test match on 29 August 2001 against Bangladesh at Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan, Pakistan.
ODI Debut
He played his debut ODI match on 14 October 1999 against West Indies at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
T20I Debut
He played his debut T20I match on 28 August 2006 against England at County Ground Stadium, Bristol, England.
Last Test Match
He played his last test match on 1 November 2015 against England at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Last ODI Match
He played his last ODI match on 16 June 2019 against India at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England.
Test Career
He has played against India, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Bangladesh. In his debut match against Bangladesh, he took 2 wickets in the match. He scored his first half-century with a score of 59 runs on 24 October 2004 against Sri Lanka. In the second innings of the first test of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2005-2006, he scored his first century with 148 runs not out. In the second innings of the third test of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2009-2010, he scored his second century with a score of 134 runs. In the first innings of the first test played against England at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, he made his highest score of 245 runs. In his last innings, he was out for a duck. He retired after the Pakistan-England series in 2015. While announcing his retirement, he said,
“The reason of my leaving Tests is not because of slump in form but it’s because I want to give more time to my family and concentrate on the 2019 World Cup. I realised today that this is the right time to leave the place for youngsters and Pakistan have many talented players who can fill in.”
ODI Career
On 15 February 2002, he scored his first ODI century with a score of 111 runs not out against West Indies at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. On 27 April 2002, he scored 115 runs against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan. He scored 895 runs in the 2004 calendar year, his highest number of runs in one calendar year. On 24 July 2004, he scored his highest ODI score of 143 runs against India at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka. On 13 February 2006, he scored 108 runs against India at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan. On 26 September 2009 during the 2009 Champions trophy, he scored 128 runs against India at SuperSport Park, Centurion, South Africa. On 26 May 2015, he scored 112 runs against Zimbabwe at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan. On 11 April 2017, he scored 101 runs not out against West Indies at Providence Stadium, Providence, Guyana, West Indies. In 2017, he was a member of the Pakistan team which won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England.
Shoaib Malik with Champions Trophy 2017
He played in the 2007 World Cup and the 2019 World Cup. He has scored his maximum runs against India with 1782 runs in 42 matches at an average of 46.89. In his last match, he was out for a duck. He took retirement from the ODI format of the game on 5 July 2019. He has won 19 Man of the Match awards.
Today I retire from One Day International cricket. Huge Thank you to all the players I have played with, coaches I have trained under, family, friends, media, and sponsors. Most importantly my fans, I love you all#PakistanZindabad 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/zlYvhNk8n0
— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) July 5, 2019
T20I Career
On 17 September 2007, he scored his first half-century with a score of 57 runs against Sri Lanka at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa. On 25 December 2012, he scored 57 runs not out against India at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India. On 30 November 2015, he made his highest score of 75 runs against England at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. On 12 June 2018 and 7 November 2021, he scored 53 runs and 54 runs not out against Scotland at Grange Cricket Club, Edinburgh, Scotland and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates respectively. He has won 6 Man of the Match awards.
2009 T20 World Cup Triumph
He was a member of the Pakistan team which won the 2009 ICC T20 World Cup. He played in all matches and scored 144 runs. He also took 1 wicket. He made 24 runs not out in the final and helped his team win the World Cup.
Shoaib Malik (second from right in the bottom row) after winning T20 World Cup 2009
Indian Premier League (IPL) Career
He played in the first season of IPL in 2008 and played for Delhi Daredevils. He took 2 wickets and scored 52 runs in 7 matches.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Other League Career
In PSL, he has played for Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi. In the Caribbean Premier League, he played for Barbados Tridents from 2013 to 2017. He played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2018, 2019, and 2021. In the Bangladesh Premier League, he played for Comilla Victorians in 2015, 2017, and 2018, for Chittagong Vikings in 2016, and for Rajshahi Royals in 2019. In Lanka Premier League, he played for Jaffna Stallions in 2020, and for Jaffna Kings in 2021 and 2022. In 2003, he played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, and in 2010, he played for Lancashire County Cricket Club, and in 2014, he played for Warwickshire County Club.
Captaincy
Pakistan Cricket Board announced Shoaib Malik as captain in all formats of the Pakistani team on 19 April 2007 at the age of 25 years. He captained Pakistan in 3 tests, 36 ODIs, and 17 T2oIs. Many sources claimed that he was not involved with the team and termed him as a loner. On 27 January 2009, he was removed from captaincy.
Jersey Number
His jersey number was 18.
Shoaib Malik’s jersey number 18
Stats
Test Cricket
Batting
Fielding and Bowling
- Most catches in a match: 2
- Most catches in an innings: 2
- Best bowling figure in an innings: 4 wickets for 33 runs
- Best bowling figure in a match: 7 wickets for 59 runs
One Day Internationals
Batting
Fielding and Bowling
- Most catches in a match: 2
- Best bowling figure: 4 wickets for 19 runs
Controversies
Bowling Action Controversy
Shoaib Malik allegedly copies Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq’s bowling action and his bowling action was reported during 2002 and 2004. In December 2004, he went to Australia, and Professor Bruce Elliot of the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia prepared a report on his bowling action. Shoaib said that he cannot extend his right arm fully after colliding with Shahid Afridi during a match at Lords Cricket Stadium in 2001. Shoaib said that he was worried as it may affect his career. In 2005, ICC cleared him and he was allowed to bowl with his bowling action.
Police Complaint by First Wife Ayesha Siddiqui
When Shoaib Malik announced his marriage to Sania Mirza in 2010, a woman Ayesha Siddiqui, also known as Maha Siddiqui, came out in the media and alleged that she is Shoaib Malik’s wife. Ayesha belongs to Hyderabad and worked as a teacher in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She alleged that she knows him since 2000 and is married to Shoaib since 2002. Shoaib reportedly confessed during the India-Pakistan match in 2005 that he is married. A video clip emerged in which Shoaib reportedly said,
“Mera Nikah ho chuka hai. Woh Jeddah mein rehte hain aur India Hyderabad ke rehne waale hain. Unka naam Ayesha hai aur mein ab bahaut khush hun, Allah ka shukar hai.”
Apparently, Shoaib and Ayesha did Telephonic Nikaah. Ayesha said in an interview,
“An Islamic scholar was talking to a channel and he did say that telephonic nikah is valid and we did have witnesses on both sides and we did have the paperwork too. And he told me he would register the marriage at the Sialkot court marriage bureau But he did not do that apparently. But according to the Shariah, a nikah is a nikah.”
Shoaib called this marriage cheating as he said that he did not meet her prior to the marriage and he had come to Hyderabad to meet her however Ayesha did not meet her. Shoaib alleged that Ayesha introduced herself as Maha Siddiqui to her. Ayesha replied to this while giving an interview and said,
“My name is Maha Siddiqui. Ayesha is the name given to me by my grandmother. Maha is my name in my passport. So ironically, when he says the wrong name was given during the nikah, well both names belong to the same person – me.”
It was reported that he was trying to marry Sania Mirza without divorcing Ayesha. Ayesha submitted the video footage of nikah and filed a police complaint against Shoaib. Local Muslim community leaders found a settlement and on 7 April 2010, Shoiab divorced Ayesha. He paid Rs15000 as alimony (Rs 5000 per month for 3 months) under Shariah law. Ayesha’s family withdrew all the police cases and Farisa Siddiqui, Ayesha’s mother, said in a press conference,
“Divorce papers have been signed. The settlement is done. My daughter’s wish was to gain a divorce without any money. She has got it. I am very happy that finally Shoaib gave her a divorce.”
It was later revealed that Ayesha got Rs15 crores in alimony from Shoaib.
One-Year Ban and 2 Million Fine by Pakistan Cricket Board
In March 2010, Pakistan Cricket Board banned Shoaib Malik for 1 year and imposed a 2 million fine after team management alleged that Shoaib misbehaved and did not cooperate with the team management during the 2009-2010 Australian tour. He appealed against the ban and it was lifted in May 2010. The fine was also halved to 1 million only.
Accusing Pakistan Cricket Board of Nepotism
In May 2021, he accused the Pakistan Cricket Board of nepotism and selecting players on the basis of players’ connections instead of their skills. He said in an interview,
“We have a system of liking and disliking in our cricket, which is something that is present in the rest of the world as well but seems to be a bit more in our culture. The day things change in our cricket system where more importance is given to skills rather than who a person knows, only then will things improve.”
Car Collection
Shoaib Malik owns a Toyota Widebody Supra, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, Nissan 350Z, Honda Civic, Accord CL-9, and Mazda RX-7.
Net Worth
Shoaib Malik has a net worth of $28 million.
Favourites
- Singers: Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar
Facts/Trivia
- He loved to fly kites during his childhood and his father gave him a kite for each cricket match he played.
- He has played from the number 1 position to the number 10 position for Pakistan.
- He is the fourth youngest captain of Pakistan.
- He was out on a duck in his last test innings and last ODI match.
- He is the first male cricketer to play 100 T20Is.
Shoaib Malik becomes the first male cricketer to play in 100 T20Is #Cricket #AUSvPAK
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 2, 2018