Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: IPL a hit in Pakistan: Malik

IPL a hit in Pakistan: Malik
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SportsDesk on 24 April, 2008 08:27:00
 
New Delhi: Pakistan was one of the first few countries to oppose Twenty20
cricket but, after it finished runners-up in the World Championship in 2007, the
shortest form of the game is catching up and the Indian Premier League (IPL) is
a hit across the border. Pakistan cricket team's captain Shoaib Malik, who is
playing for Delhi Daredevils, admitted that even when his team was playing in
Bangladesh few days back, the only issue that was discussed in the dressing room
was the IPL.
"In the dressing room, the only thing we used to watch on television was the
IPL. So you can guess, if it is so popular among the cricketers, what impact it
has created by now in Pakistan. I can tell you the IPL is already a big hit in
my country," Malik told reporters after a practice session at the Feroze Shah
Kotla in New Delhi on Thursday.
The 26-year-old all-rounder from Sialkot feels that Twenty20 cricket is just
like a movie, with all the ingredients of entertainment. "A Twenty20 match is
just like a movie. Both get over in just three hours. One needs to enjoy it with
popcorn," said Malik.
He was also happy with the way the Daredevils have maintained a clean slate in
the league and said that captain Virender Sehwag's 94 against Deccan Chargers
will encourage other batsmen in the team.
"The Daredevils are a good team and there is no doubt that our captain (Sehwag)
is a great player. His 94 against Deccan Chargers will obviously encourage and
give confidence to the other batsmen in the team," said Malik.
Unlike his Pakistan team mate Shahid Afridi who said that skimpily-dressed
cheerleaders are a distraction, Malik said those things don't bother him much.
"I am here to play cricket and I am not at all distracted by the cheerleaders,"
he said. (IANS)