<p>When Shoaib Malik takes the field for Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup, the 39-year-old all-rounder could be forgiven for feeling his age.</p>.<p>When Malik made his international debut in 1999, current teammates such as pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Junior, and batsman Haider Ali were not even born.</p>.<p>Vice-captain Shadab Khan was just one while skipper Babar Azam and fellow all-rounder Hasan Ali had both just turned five.</p>.<p>Malik, still fighting fit, played his first one-day international against the West Indies at Sharjah in October 1999.</p>.<p>Legendary paceman Wasim Akram, who led Pakistan in Malik's first game, retired 18 years ago.</p>.<p>"I remember when Malik came into the Pakistan team in 1999," Wasim Akram told AFP.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/scotland-stun-fancied-bangladesh-by-6-runs-on-first-day-of-t20-world-cup-1041592.html">Scotland stun fancied Bangladesh by 6 runs on first day of T20 World Cup</a></strong></p>.<p>"I picked him up, he was a 16-17-year-old skinny guy and I initially picked him solely as a bowler and as a fielder and never knew that he can bat very well."</p>.<p>Malik, however, is not the oldest player at the World Cup -- Chris Gayle, 42, who made his ODI debut a month before Malik, will be looking to steer West Indies to a third T20 title.</p>.<p>"He (Malik) has turned out to be a life-saver for Pakistan in limited-overs cricket. Even now, when you talk about fitness, he is superb and trains so extensively," added Wasim.</p>.<p>"I think young players should see him as a role model as he is still competing with them in domestic events and that shows how mentally strong he has been.</p>.<p>"He is looking good and that shows he wants to go on a high."</p>.<p>Former team-mate and captain Shahid Afridi also believes Malik can contribute as Pakistan go in search of a second T20 World Cup title.</p>.<p>"Good to see Shoaib Malik recalled for the T20 World Cup," said Afridi.</p>.<p>"As a senior and experienced player, he can contribute big time for Pakistan."</p>.<p>Babar Azam believes Malik will have a key role on and off the field in the United Arab Emirates.</p>.<p>"His experience will be an asset. He is still one of the fittest members of the squad," Babar said on Sunday.</p>.<p>"We have to make a plan on including him in the playing XI."</p>.<p>Malik, whose career has seen a series of ups and downs, led Pakistan to a runners-up finish in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007.</p>.<p>He was a member of the 2009 title-winning team and, after missing the 2010 event, featured in the last three editions.</p>.<p>Despite calls from fans for his inclusion for this year's showpiece, Malik was nowhere close to squad selection until last month.</p>.<p>His 225 runs in seven domestic T20 games strengthened his case but it was only after top-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood was ruled out with a back problem that Malik sneaked into the squad at the last minute.</p>.<p>Malik retired from Test cricket in 2015 and ODIs after a miserable 2019 World Cup in England, where he fell for eight and two ducks.</p>.<p>He has already ruled out playing in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.</p>.<p>"I want to play the World Cup and go out on a high," he said.</p>.<p>Pakistan start their T20 World Cup campaign against old rivals India in Dubai on Sunday.</p>
<p>When Shoaib Malik takes the field for Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup, the 39-year-old all-rounder could be forgiven for feeling his age.</p>.<p>When Malik made his international debut in 1999, current teammates such as pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Junior, and batsman Haider Ali were not even born.</p>.<p>Vice-captain Shadab Khan was just one while skipper Babar Azam and fellow all-rounder Hasan Ali had both just turned five.</p>.<p>Malik, still fighting fit, played his first one-day international against the West Indies at Sharjah in October 1999.</p>.<p>Legendary paceman Wasim Akram, who led Pakistan in Malik's first game, retired 18 years ago.</p>.<p>"I remember when Malik came into the Pakistan team in 1999," Wasim Akram told AFP.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/scotland-stun-fancied-bangladesh-by-6-runs-on-first-day-of-t20-world-cup-1041592.html">Scotland stun fancied Bangladesh by 6 runs on first day of T20 World Cup</a></strong></p>.<p>"I picked him up, he was a 16-17-year-old skinny guy and I initially picked him solely as a bowler and as a fielder and never knew that he can bat very well."</p>.<p>Malik, however, is not the oldest player at the World Cup -- Chris Gayle, 42, who made his ODI debut a month before Malik, will be looking to steer West Indies to a third T20 title.</p>.<p>"He (Malik) has turned out to be a life-saver for Pakistan in limited-overs cricket. Even now, when you talk about fitness, he is superb and trains so extensively," added Wasim.</p>.<p>"I think young players should see him as a role model as he is still competing with them in domestic events and that shows how mentally strong he has been.</p>.<p>"He is looking good and that shows he wants to go on a high."</p>.<p>Former team-mate and captain Shahid Afridi also believes Malik can contribute as Pakistan go in search of a second T20 World Cup title.</p>.<p>"Good to see Shoaib Malik recalled for the T20 World Cup," said Afridi.</p>.<p>"As a senior and experienced player, he can contribute big time for Pakistan."</p>.<p>Babar Azam believes Malik will have a key role on and off the field in the United Arab Emirates.</p>.<p>"His experience will be an asset. He is still one of the fittest members of the squad," Babar said on Sunday.</p>.<p>"We have to make a plan on including him in the playing XI."</p>.<p>Malik, whose career has seen a series of ups and downs, led Pakistan to a runners-up finish in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007.</p>.<p>He was a member of the 2009 title-winning team and, after missing the 2010 event, featured in the last three editions.</p>.<p>Despite calls from fans for his inclusion for this year's showpiece, Malik was nowhere close to squad selection until last month.</p>.<p>His 225 runs in seven domestic T20 games strengthened his case but it was only after top-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood was ruled out with a back problem that Malik sneaked into the squad at the last minute.</p>.<p>Malik retired from Test cricket in 2015 and ODIs after a miserable 2019 World Cup in England, where he fell for eight and two ducks.</p>.<p>He has already ruled out playing in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.</p>.<p>"I want to play the World Cup and go out on a high," he said.</p>.<p>Pakistan start their T20 World Cup campaign against old rivals India in Dubai on Sunday.</p>