Guyana pick all-rounder after five years with Barbados

KINGSTON: Pakistan veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik will feature for a different outfit in this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as he has been picked up by Guyana Amazon Warriors, a CPL media release stated on Wednesday. For the past five years, Malik had been a constant feature for Barbados Tridents.

The 36-year-old is excited by the prospect of turning up for a fresh side, which he believes is a very strong unit. “I’ve seen the squad and it’s well balanced, not just us, in other teams as well. Obviously, there are so many good cricketers and as a franchise you have the options even if you prefer some players but still, even if you don’t get that player you still have the option in other players,” Malik mentioned.

“Obviously you want to see that you end up winning, and that’s what I want. I want to do well for my team, not just against Barbados, against the rest of the teams as well.”The conditions in Guyana are considered to be very close to that of the sub-continent and Malik will be expected to make the most of that familiarity. “Guyana is more like you’re playing in the sub-continent I think. But on that particular day performance is the key of any cricketer and that’s what I’m looking for.

Obviously, if you’re playing for a new team the expectations are a lot from you. When they have seen someone that did well for a longer run the expectations are obviously high.”The all-rounder has his sights set on the 2019 World Cup in England, but he didn’t discount the fact that he is gunning to be a part of the 2020 World T20 as well.

Malik, who has been a part of 306 T20s, having plied his trade across different leagues around the world, mentioned how Barbados had become a part of him in the last few years.