News

Bereaved Malik leaves camp

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder, has gone back to Sialkot following the death of his father on Tuesday night

Cricinfo staff
25-Jan-2006
Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder, has gone back to Sialkot following the death of his father on Tuesday night. Malik had rejoined the team last night, in case he was required to bat on the final day, but left after being informed that his father's condition had started to deteriorate.
Malik's father, Malik Faqir Hussain, had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C and his deteriorating health had led Malik to join him and his family two days into the Test. He passed away at 4am this morning.
Both teams and officials held a minute's silence before start of play on the fifth day of the Faisalabad Test. It is not yet clear whether Malik will be available for the third Test at Karachi, beginning on January 29. Malik is the third current Pakistani player to lose his father in the last year, following Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Younis Khan who endured similar tragedies.