Shoaib Malik Reveals What Makes a Good Leader

Former captain of the Pakistan Cricket team Shoaib Malik has offered fascinating insights into what makes a good leader during his podcast with ProPakistani’s How Does it Work?

The 42-year-old who captained Pakistan in 2007 offered riveting assessment of what makes someone fit for shouldering the bourdon of captaincy.

Shoaib Malik said,

A good leader is the one who can deal with things when his own performances are down. Leadership skills are not about your own performance but how you plan things in the long run. Leadership and being a good player are two separate things. If you announce a captain then you should stick with him for the long run because clarity in the role leads to better results.

The former Pakistani cricketer then went into further detail about the necessary skills that any inherent captain has.

“A good captain should have clear communication with the players and should always be a good decision-maker,” he said. “A leader should never be dependant on anyone. When you are under pressure you cannot look for another shoulder, it’s your responsibility”.

Asked if he sees Rizwan as a suitable option for Pakistan’s captaincy Shoaib Malik offered his opinion.

“Rizwan no doubt has a good cricketing brain, he has the leaderships after leading Multan Sultans. He is very active in the field.” However, Malik raised a big question for relevant authorities concerning the 32-year-old skipper.

“Do you see Rizwan in the T20 squad in the future? If yes then he is a great option but if he does not fit into the future plans then that is another question.”

Pakistan cricket is known for its volatility as evidenced by this week’s actions but PCB will be hoping that Rizwan can fit Shoaib Malik’s vision of a leader and guide Pakistan to sustained success.