Desperate to get a berth in the playing eleven, Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik is now trying his hands behind the wicket to add value to his batting.
"I am concentrating on wicket-keeping to add value to my batting," Malik, who played his last Test in the Melbourne Test against Australia early this year, said in Kolkata on Tuesday.
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While leaving the selection issues entirely to the team management, Malik did not hide his intentions.
"Everyone wants to be in the playing eleven. It's a great feeling to play for Pakistan. But the decision is upto the coach and captain and I am happy with it," he said.
"I came in the Pakistan team as a bowler and later on I became an all-rounder" before trying to play the wicketkeeper's role these days.
After missing the Sydney Test and the Indo-Pak series opener at Mohali, Malik now hopes to soon regain his position in the first eleven, which he lost after sustaining injury in Melbourne.
Malik, a hard-hitting batsman, was also ready to offer his services in the opening slot, a weak spot in the current Pakistan squad.
"I have batted at various positions from number one to 10. I will play wherever my captain wants me to," said Malik, who usually batted at number six in Tests.
In the one-dayers, however, his position has been changing constantly.
To a question, Malik regretted that the Pakistan players in general received poor endorsement offers from the corporates in their country.
"Advertisers come but pay very little money. I hope things to improve after the current series," he said.
