DUBAI: Karachi King’s skipper Shoaib Malik on Friday resigned from captaincy. Ravi Bopara will be leading the Karachi-based side in Malik’s stead in the upcoming play-off round of the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL). The 34-year-old Pakistan batsman then suggested the franchise to appoint England’s Ravi Bopara as his replacement. “My performance is being affected by the captaincy and I have not been able to fulfil my role. I spoke to the team management and owners and told them to kindly make Ravi Bopara the captain,” Malik said during a press conference here. Malik is considered as one of the most successful T20 captains in Pakistan domestic cricket. “I have always played for the team and not for myself and I want to deliver in the playoffs for Karachi which is why I stepped down as captain,” he added. Speculations had been rife about Malik not being in agreement with the owners and coach Mickey Arthur on some team issues which has only added to the woes of the Karachi franchise that was brought at the highest rate of $2.6 million among the five franchises.
Bopara had previously criticised Malik’s decision to bat first in Kings’ match against Peshawar Zalmi, which the Karachi side lost by five wickets. He further criticised team’s overall performance in the tournament, claiming that his side did not deserve to qualify for the next round.
“We played poorly throughout the league, we do not deserve to be through to the play-offs, if I be brutally true,” said Bopara. He also criticized top players for not performing up to mark in the league including Shoaib Malik, Shakib al Hassan and Lendl Simmons.
In the encounter against Zalmi, Bopara praised Brad Hodge’s performance stating it as a reason for his team’s defeat. “We were winning the game until Hodge got hold of us,” said Bopara. Commenting about the standard of Pakistan Super League, Bopara said, “PSL is high on the cards, it is best league in the world, and ranks second after Indian Premier League (IPL).”
