Bad news for Malik. His father seems to be on the deathbed.
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Pakistan opener Shoaib Malik was today relieved of his duty in the second cricket Test to enable him to be at the bedside of his ailing father. Malik, who had made 19 in Pakistan’s first innings left for Sialkot late on Sunday. “It is too early to say when he would rejoin the team,” said Asad Mustafa, the team co-ordinator, speaking to PTI.
Malik’s father has been suffering from Hepatitis C for the last few months but today, the doctors gave up all hope and advised the cricketer’s family to call him as soon as possible. “The entire team feels sorry for Malik and are praying for his father’s recovery. As Shoaib is very close to his father, we all understand what he is going through,” said Mustafa.
Malik is the second cricketer who would miss out on the remainder of this match after Inzamam-ul-Haq, the captain, was also ruled out of the Test with a back injury. Last year, before the third test against England, Younis Khan had to miss the game because of his elder brother’s death in the Ukraine.
Re: Shoaib Malik will take no further part in the 2nd Test
Bereaved Malik leaves camp
Cricinfo staff
January 25, 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.