(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Veteran batsman Shoaib Malik's superb 61-ball 81 helped Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 83 runs in the first match of the five-game ODI series against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Malik and the 22-year-old Babar Azam (103 off 131 balls) shared a 139-run partnership for the fourth wicket off just 109 balls, helping Pakistan post a highly competitive total of 292/6 in 50 overs.
Later, two young fast bowlers - the 23-year-old Hasan Ali and the 25-year-old Rumman Raees - took three wickets each to help Pakistan restrict Sri Lanka to 209/8 in 50 overs.
Interestingly, Pervez Musharraf also attended the match on Friday. In an interview with media, the former Pakistan president praised the young players - Azam, Hasan and Rumman - for their contributions in Pakistan's win on Friday night, without praising Malik for his magnificent knock.
In the post-match press conference, the 35-year-old Malik gave the perfect answer when a reporter asked him if he felt bad for being ignored by Musharraf.
"That was his (Musharraf's) answer and so you can go and ask him. But yes I believe youngsters should always be praised more because the seniors don't need that," Malik said.
"They (the seniors) have already gone beyond that stage now. It doesn't matter to them whether someone is praising them or not. That doesn't bother them. So I think he (Musharraf) did a very good thing by praising the youngsters in our team. It's a very good step to encourage the young players in our team."
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