Shoaib Malik, like his surprising comeback in Test squad against England, shocked his fans with retirement announcement from Test cricket at the close of the third day’s play of the third Test against England in Sharjah. The all-rounder’s decision was unexpected as some team-mates were also unaware of his decision.

Malik ends his Test career on a happy note as Pakistan not only won the Test series against England 2-0 but also reclaimed the second spot in the ICC Test ranking after 2006.

He played only three matches after his five-year exile from the Test team. But he showed his ambition to play for Pakistan till 2019 World Cup in England.

Malik made a comeback to the Test side after scoring 500 runs with a century and three fifties at an average of 100 in 11 ODI innings in 2015.

The 33-year-old made an outstanding comeback in Test cricket with a career best 245 in Abu Dhabi. But he managed only 0, 2, 7, 38 and 0 in the remaining five innings of the series.

Shoaib was brought into the Pakistani squad as a bowler in 1999. He made his Test debut against Bangladesh 14 years back in 2001, when current head coach Waqar Younis was Pakistan’s captain. In that match Malik didn’t get a chance to bat, but he took two wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings. Pakistan won that match by an innings and 264 runs.

Malik played 32 Tests between 2001 and 2010, but failed to cement his place. In 2007 he was named as the captain for all formats of the game. But he was sacked in 2009 and Younis Khan took over.

He replied with exceptional performance in domestic cricket, scored 799 runs at the average of 88.77, including four centuries in six matches, becoming the second-highest scorer in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Malik played just 35 Tests, scored 1898 runs at an average of 35.14, hitting three centuries and eight fifties. He took 32 wickets at an average of 47.46. His career best was 4-33 which he got in his last Test against England at Sharjah.

In his last Test series, he scored 292 runs in three Tests, averaging 48.66, thanks to his double hundred in the first match. But he was more impressive with his bowling, taking 11 wickets at an average of just 20.72. He played a vital role in Pakistan’s wins.

He started his last Test series with his career best 245 runs at Abu Dhabi and ended his career with his career best bowling 4-33 at Sharjah.

He has been more successful in One-day Internationals as he has scored 5,370 runs with the help of eight hundreds and 34 half-centuries in 227 ODIs at an average of 34.62. He has also taken 147 wickets at an average of 36.53.