A lot to play for in the last 3 World Cup games: Dawid Malan
Defending champions England have had a shoddy campaign thus far in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, having won just one of the six games they have played. Jos Buttler and Co. started with a comprehensive defeat versus New Zealand before getting off the mark against Bangladesh. However, after that win, the team from Europe has been annihilated in four consecutive matches and is languishing at the bottom of the points table.
Furthermore, to add to their woes the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Sunday that the top seven teams on the table after the end of the league phase along with hosts Pakistan will qualify for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Therefore, England’s dismal World Cup performance could have severe implications for their future. Dawid Malan, who is England’s leading run-getter in the tournament thus far with 236 runs at 39.33, said that a lot is at stake in his team’s three remaining games in the ongoing marquee event.
“People’s jobs are being scrutinised and players’ careers are being scrutinised. We have a hell of a lot to play for in the last three. The last thing you want – if the decision gets made to move on from players – is that we haven’t done well enough to give other players the opportunity in future to play in big tournaments. That’s what you play the game for: you want to be in the Champions Trophy and the World Cup, things like that,” Malan was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“It’s definitely not going to be a situation where we just go through the motions because we’re potentially out of this World Cup. We have a lot at stake and a lot of pride for England to be in that Champions Trophy in two years’ time,” the southpaw added.
Pretty sure I’ll be done before the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy: Malan
The 36-year-old Malan reckoned that he would not be a part of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy even if England made the cut for the prestigious eight-team event. Malan felt that he was playing well but finding ways to get out. He also lamented England’s batting unit’s lack of performance in the ODI World Cup 2023.
“Pretty sure I’ll be done. It feels a long way away. Two years feels a long way away. I am playing as well as I’ve played, but whether that decision is mine or someone else’s, we’ll find out. I feel like I am playing well, but just finding ways of getting out. We just can’t get anything going with the bat and get a score on the board. I can’t put my finger on it,” Malan told the BBC.
Malan spoke about the recent reports which claimed he would skip playing in the County Championship for Yorkshire, next year. The veteran wants to play as much white-ball cricket as possible but also emphasizes spending time with his family.
“I’ll probably try and play as much white-ball cricket as I can for the rest of my career. It’s prioritising spending a bit more time at home because my winters are so busy with internationals or franchise tournaments,” Malan added.
