Future of the top stars in Cricket

I don't even know what's going on here[/caption]

With the ongoing suspension in Sports due to Covid-19 pandemic, the world of cricket has had a great impact. However, cricket will soon return with the current talks of running the games in the UK under a controlled environment. It has already started with the Taipei T10 league and looking at the cricket betting tips the market is going strong. 

Whenever it returns, the key question would then be what will happen to some of the stars who we were suspecting will be playing their last season. Here is looking at the top players in Asia who are keenly awaiting this decision.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 28: Alastair Cook of England hits the ball during day three of the Fourth Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 28, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)[/caption]

Shoaib Malik/Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan)

Aged 38 and 39 respectively, evergreen stars Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez had clawed their way back into Pakistan’s T20 international team for the series win against Bangladesh in January.

Both played their part in Pakistan’s two victories, hitting half-centuries as the hosts restored their reputation with two solid wins.

The stage looked set for both to add experience to an otherwise youthful squad as Pakistan geared up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in October.

Now, however, that tournament is in doubt and the purple patch both – particularly Malik – were enjoying in T20 cricket has been abruptly ended by cricket’s suspension too.

When cricket returns, even if the World Cup goes ahead, Pakistan’s selectors will have some big decisions to make.

If Malik can not recapture the incredible form he has enjoyed for much of the season, can they really justify selecting at the expense of some of their younger stars?

The opportunity for one final major tournament for two of Pakistan’s longest-serving players may end up passing them by.

MS Dhoni (India)

Another already confirmed as being in the final throes of his career, MS Dhoni is among those many expected to bid farewell after this year’s IPL.

The 38-year-old has already stepped away from cricket to complete a two-week stint with the Territorial Army.

Dhoni consequently has not played for India since last summer’s 50-over World Cup and any hopes he harboured of playing at the T20 World Cup seemed to rest on some big form at the IPL.

Now it is questionable as to whether the T20 World Cup or indeed the IPL will still go ahead, which could alter Dhoni’s retirement plans.

If he still has the hunger, he could still bid farewell next year if the IPL returns to ‘normal’, allowing him to bid farewell properly to the Chennai fans.

But his already slim hopes of a place in the T20 World Cup squad could be over, regardless of whether that tournament even goes ahead.

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

Having bid farewell to the longer forms, Lasith Malinga was winding his career down in the shortest format with the 2020 T20 World Cup an obvious target for a final flurry.

Malinga had tentatively announced retirement plans for after the tournament already, only to make a u-turn on that decision.

His form is excellent and he remains one of the finest death bowlers in T20 cricket, so that is not a concern providing he stays fit.

But the slingy paceman did state he would be content to lead Sri Lanka into the knockout stages and then walk away into the sunset, so to speak.

With uncertainty around next year’s tournament, Malinga is going to have to adjust those plans – and prove his fitness in the long-term too.

Fortunately for him, he will at least – should he stay fit – have the 2021 T20 World Cup in India to target instead.