Is Sana Javed trying too hard for Shoaib Malik’s comeback?

WEB DESK: A supporting partner or a PR move? In a move that has raised eyebrows, actor Sana Javed has stepped in to champion her husband, veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik, reigniting conversations about his relevance in Pakistan cricket as the team suffered a third consecutive defeat against India, this time losing the final which could have been won.

Taking to Facebook, Sana suggested that Malik’s years of experience could have been a “beacon of hope” for the national team, adding that his mere presence on the field would “ignite courage and inspire belief in victory.” She stopped short of explicitly demanding his return, clarifying that she was not saying Malik was “necessary” in the team, but pressed the need for senior figures to steady the squad, citing names like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Malik was previously married to Indian tennis player Sania Mirza while Sana Javed was hitched to singer Umair Jaswal.

The post is being read less as an observation on Pakistan cricket and more as a carefully timed nudge to put Malik back in the headlines. Once a staple of Pakistan’s middle order, Malik has been out of serious contention for some time, overshadowed by younger talent and his own patchy late-career form.

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By publicly weighing in, Javed has ensured her husband’s name resurfaces in cricket chatter at a time when the team is under scrutiny for lacking experience. The move underscores how off-field voices — even from the entertainment industry — can stir debates that selectors and fans had largely put to rest.

For Malik, it may be the most significant innings played on his behalf in years — this time not by him, but by his wife.

Earlier in March this year, Shoaib Malik’s inclusion in Sialkot’s squad for the National T20 Cup also triggered backlash from fans and pundits alike, who argued that his selection blocked opportunities for rising talent.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had unveiled squads, with the tournament beginning March 15. Outrage online centred on 43-year-old Malik being preferred over promising youngsters such as Azan Awais, Ali Shafique, and Awais Ali. Awais’s exclusion drew particular ire, given his 1,422 runs in the 2024-25 domestic season at an average of 56.9, and his U19 century against India.

Former Pakistan batter Salman Butt also criticised the decision, saying the tournament should be a platform for youth development, not veterans.

The controversy also came at a time of wider scrutiny of the PCB following poor international performances. While Wahab Riaz and Sarfaraz Ahmed withdrew after initial backlash, Malik remained in Sialkot’s lineup.