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NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Malik hopeful of return to national team

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik remains hopeful of making his international return in spite of reports that he has been sidelined by his country’s cricket authorities because of match-fixing suspicions.Malik, who hasn’t played for Pakistan since the Test series against England in August 2010, said that he is working hard on his game and is confident of returning to international cricket soon.“Cricket is my passion and I am completely focusing on it right now,” said the all-rounder, who is reportedly on a PCB blacklist for suspected links to bookies.Malik, who is married to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, said he is also taking extensive yoga classes along with his wife to keep himself in shape.“I am keeping myself busy by playing club cricket to maintain my form and fitness. I have also attended 40-hour yoga classes recently and I am fit as ever.“I only believe in my game and I am hopeful I will win my place (in the national team) by proving my worth.”There have been reports that Malik has not been cleared for national duty by the PCB Integrity Committee. But the Sialkot-born player made it clear that he hasn’t been told anything about his case by the PCB.“There is no official version by PCB on my case and I cannot comment on it further. I did my job and now it is up to the board to decide my case,” he said.