I wish my father was alive today: Malik says after joining elusive T20 club

Veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik became the first Pakistan batsman (third overall) to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs in T20 cricket. Malik, who appeared in his 395th T20 match on Saturday, joined the 10,000-run club mark when he reached 47 against Balochistan in the ongoing National T20 Cup.

Malik held the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa innings together before falling to Umar Gul for 74. His innings included eight fours and two sixes and came off 44 balls.

Sialkot-born cricketer remembered his late father while dedicating the milestone to his parents on Twitter.

"I would like to congratulate the people of Pakistan as I am the first Asian cricketer to have reached this milestone of making 10,000 runs in T20 cricket & I hope I will carry on in the way I have been playing. I'd like to dedicate this milestone to my parents, they've always prayed for me. I wish my father was alive today as he would've been very happy, but that's how life is. Whenever I go to the ground I always call my mother before a match & get her prayers. Also a big thank you at the same time to all my fellow players, ground staff members, fans and supporters," Malik tweeted.

- "I would like to congratulate the people of Pakistan as I am the first Asian cricketer to have reached this milestone of making 10,000 runs in #T20 cricket & I hope I will carry on in the way I have been playing. I'd like to dedicate this milestone to my parents... pic.twitter.com/btiOGpTJo9

— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) October 10, 2020