Thu, Nov 25 10 10:06 PM
Lahore, Nov 25 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has pushed himself into a strong position to win a recall to the national team for the upcoming tour to New Zealand after scoring his third successive hundred in the country''s premier domestic tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Malik, who had scored a double-century in the previous round of matches, made 102 in the first innings against Sialkot while playing for PIA and then smashed another 156 in the second innings, today. "Oh yes I am in great form and I think my batting is driven by the fact that I want to wear the Pakistan cap again and get back into the team," Malik said. The allrounder was axed from the national team after the Test series in England and was also not considered for the series against South Africa. But with his current batting form, Malik has strongly reminded the selectors of his talent. "The Quaid Trophy has provided me a great platform to get back into form and remind the selectors that I still have lot of cricket left in me to offer to the national team," Malik said. He admitted that his visit to China to be with his wife, the Indian tennis star, Sania Mirza during the Eid holidays had also refreshed him and made him more hungry for runs. "Scoring two centuries in a match is something I always wanted to achieve and I am happy I have done it today," Malik said. The national selectors are due to announce the squad for the tour of New Zealand later this week with the Pakistan team also slated to return home from the UAE later tonight after drawing the Test series against South Africa. The New Zealand tour is schedule to start next month. The selectors, meanwhile, are also given the task of announcing the preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup by December 19.
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