Just ahead of PSL Season 10, Quetta Gladiators appointed 37-year-old Sarfaraz Ahmed as team director, while 43-year-old Shoaib Malik was picked as part of the playing squad.
The franchise’s decision drew backlash from fans, with some claiming Sarfaraz’s exclusion from the field was due to his Karachi background.
Former cricketer and national team batting consultant Mohammad Yousuf also raised concerns, questioning Malik’s inclusion at this stage of his career. He stressed the need for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to set a clear policy on the selection of aging players.
Yousuf highlighted a conflict of interest, pointing out that Malik recently served as a mentor for the Stallions in domestic cricket. “If that’s acceptable, then I’m ready to play too,” he quipped.
So far in the tournament, Malik has featured in two matches for Quetta Gladiators, scoring only 14 runs without taking any wickets.