Shoaib Malik refuses to become a make shift opener

CENTURION - Pakistan middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik has refused to open the innings in case the team management decides to send him up the batting order as the regular openers have not been so successful in the ongoing Champions Trophy, The News reports.

According to sources privy to the Pakistani dressing room, Malik is reluctant to open the innings which has forced the team management to drop Misbah-ul Haq in order to accommodate captain Younis Khan.

It may be noted that the selection committee had declared Malik as a back up opener while announcing the team for the eight-nation tournament. Selectors had then said that because Malik was in the team they didn’t select another opener Salman Butt.

“Malik would be there to open the innings in case any of the first priority opener gets injured or fail to click,” the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee had said.

Considering the form of both the current openers Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal, who managed just five runs between them in the game against West Indies and also failed in the important match against India, Pakistan surely requires another specialist opener. (ANI)