Pakistan’s veteran all-rounder, Shoaib Malik, played an exceptional match-winning knock against Sindh in the ongoing National T20 Cup. He was awarded the player of the match trophy as he single-handedly rescued the innings of Central Punjab, scoring 85 runs off 47 balls which included 8 boundaries and 5 sixes.
This was Malik’s 35th player of the match award, the most by an Asian in T20 cricket history. Malik surpassed former Pakistan all-rounder, Shahid Afridi who had won a total of 34 such awards during his career.
Here are the Asian players with the most player of the match awards in T20s:
| Player | Matches | Player of the Match Awards |
| Shoaib Malik | 440 | 35 |
| Shahid Afridi | 326 | 34 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 303 | 32 |
| Kamran Akmal | 281 | 29 |
| Rashid Khan | 282 | 29 |
| Rohit Sharma | 354 | 29 |
| Virat Kohli | 316 | 28 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 341 | 27 |
| Azhar Mahmood | 230 | 26 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 339 | 26 |
Malik also became the fifth player in the world with the most player of the match awards. Legendary West Indian batsman, Chris Gayle, leads the charts with a walloping 60 trophies. Former South African batter, AB de Villiers is next on the list with 42 player of the match awards to his name.
Here are the top five players with the most player of the match awards:
| Player | Matches | Player of the Match Awards |
| Chris Gayle | 448 | 60 |
| AB de Villiers | 337 | 42 |
| Kieron Pollard | 566 | 40 |
| Shane Watson | 343 | 38 |
| Shoaib Malik | 440 | 35 |
Do you think Shoaib Malik deserves a place in Pakistan’s squad for T20 World Cup? Let us know in the comments section.
Shoaib Malik Is The Best All rounder
Best fielder in current situation of Pakistani team.He Should be the part of t20 world cup squad
Yes 100%. He is the most important player for t20 world cup.
He is one of the best batting all rounder in Pakistan. He must be included in T20 WC squad.
35 player of the match award tells us the importance of Shoaib Malik.He must be the part wo T20 worldcup squad.
He is most important player of pakistan.he must b added
Yes
Yes, Shoaib must include in T20 world Cup squad.
Malik is one of the most experienced player in pakistan who is also a game changer and game winning player, he deserves the most in the world cup squad
Shoaib wont let us down like hafeez bhai. We need these experienced guns of newreon for t20 coz apart from them we just count on babar and rizwan. Four of these will be lethal for any opposition.
Yes yes obviously, Pakistan team needs sohaib malik in t20 squad, for upcoming t20 world cup.
Yes he should be in team for world cup
Yes, why not. He is mature crickter who can stay on pitch when needed with the strength of hard hitting. That kind of player is very useful UAE pitches.
Yes
Yes 💯
Yes he should play t20 worldcup 2021
He is playing cricket for himself, don’t include him in world cup squad. He has a Price to deal. Be alert!
Malik is best player for T20 squad
Shoiab Malik must should be in T20 squad
On current form, he richly deserves selection in T20 squad.
He and hafeez wont perform. They have been good players but their time n reflexes gone. If they play together with asif and khushdil shah, Pakistan will b playing with 7 players not 11. Best of luck.
Let us be realistic. I am not a big fan of Malick because in most big games he chokes. However, when I compare him with the likes of Azam, Shoiab Maqsood and Asif Ali, he stands out royally. I just cannot believe this trio was picked up in the first place.
Oh yes just bcoz he knows the game very well more than any body also the team picked for world cup comparatively he deserves more than half of the team
Yes shoib malik deserve a seat in a world cup because he is our senior in respect of that we should select him and he is a best t20 player with 10000 runs milestone I think ramiz should think about shoib no matter he performance was not good but every day is not sunday
Yes strongly recommend his participation.
Yes, why not shoaib malik is a talented player so he deserev t20 World Cup. He has to include the Pakistani t 20 World Cup squad
Yes he does need a place in Pakistan team
If he is fit enough he is good enough
Yes, Shaoib Malik must get a chance in T20 Wc squad.
Shoaib Malik Is The Best All rounder
Best fielder in current situation of Pakistan team.He Should be the part of t20 world cup squad
Shoaib Malik ko T20 world cup mein zaroor rakhna chahye,
Yes, he must be included in T20 world cup squad