Stats: Shoaib Malik features in a World Cup game after 12 years

After a dismal performance with the bat against the Windies, the Pakistan management made a couple of changes for the game against England. They brought in Shoaib Malik for Haris Sohail and dropped Imad Wasim for Asif Ali. This meant Asif made his World Cup debut while Malik featured in a CWC game for the first time since 2007. The all-rounder last appeared in this competition was way back in 2007 where Pakistan’s campaign lasted only three games due to the defeats against the Windies and Ireland.

However, Malik couldn’t make a cut to the squad for the 2011 and 2015 editions. Post the 2015 World Cup, the retirement of the senior players gave a chance for Malik to make an impact. Malik’s spot in the 2019 CWC was once again under threat as the veteran had tough going with the bat in the lead-up to the tournament. By featuring in the game against England, Malik recorded the longest interval between two matches for a team in the World Cups.

Shoaib Malik’s last CWC game was against Zimbabwe on 21 March 2007, which was 12 years and 74 days ago. He thus broke the record set by Liam Plunkett during the tournament opener last week. The England pacer’s last CWC game was against Windies in April 2007. Plunkett spent 12 years and 39 days without an appearance at the at the quadrennial event until he played against South Africa.

Malik and Plunkett’s intervals will be pushed to 2nd and 3rd spot if appearances for different countries be considered. All-rounder Anderson Cummins represented the Windies during the 1992 World Cup. He finished as the leading wicket-taker for them with 12 wickets in six matches and played ODIs until 1995. However, he made a return to cricket by representing Canada in the 2007 World Cup.

Cummins’ last appearance in 1992 and his first game for Canada were spread across nearly 15 years. Only two other players have spent ten and more years between their two World Cup matches. Lameck Onyango spent 11 years between his two CWC games for Kenya while Carl Hooper played in 1987 and 1992 World Cups for the Windies before missing 1996 and 1999. Hooper played the 2003 edition which turned out to be his final International assignment.

(Stats as on June 3, 2019)