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Shoaib Malik (born February 1, 1982 in Sialkot) is a Pakistani cricketer. He started his career as an off spinner, and now has become a very useful batsman as well. He performs especially well against India and has batted in a number of positions. Most of his early successes have come in one day internationals. He has been allotted to the position of a Test match opener as a potential solution to Pakistan's difficulties in this area. He is often commended by commentators for his straight style of batting.
With ambition to become the best all rounder in world cricket, he has improved so much that he has found place in the Top 5 One Day International players (LG ICC Player Rankings). He continues to find place in the Pakistan's final XI despite high competition from Abdul Razaq, and Shahid Afridi. Pakistan is stating to have so much faith in his ability that he has even played matche as a specialist batsman when he was reported for his bowling action. Malik gives Pakistan the flexibility to play a game with three all rounders, or have one for reserve. He is clearly capable of hitting big shots however, unlike Afridi, he is also able to keep his cool and score runs at slower rate.
Shoaib is yet to make his name in Test Cricket.
He has twice been reported by the ICC for a suspected illegal bowling action. He is married to an Indian woman named Ayesha.
In recent news, Shoaib Malik's father died on January 25th 2006 after a long illness, due to which he could not attend the ongoing Indopak series.
Edit: He returned to play the ODI Indopak series, and scored two 90s and one 100 (century), in a series which Pakistan lost 4-1. He has continued to perform well in his batting, playing a crucial parternership with Faisal Iqbal (a new a successful test batsman for Pakistan) drawing the 1st Test, and winning the 2nd Test. Pakistan also won the ODI series 2-0 (Best of 3 ODI, where the first ODI Pakistan were reduced to a low total by Srilanka's injury reduced squad, lacking Marvan Attapattu - captain, Sanath Jayasuria - Srilanka's most successful batsman and Chaminda Vaas - Srilanka's most successful fast bowler)
He right now (mid April 2006), is having a surgery to correct tendons in his arm allowing him to bowl the "doosra" without breaking the bowling action code of ICC.
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