VSDCA: Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik to play with Endeavour Hills

The Hills have wasted little time unveiling more big-name recruits for the 2022-23 season in Victorian Sub-District cricket.

Endeavour Hills has announced Pakistan veteran Shoaib Malik as a recruit for next season.

The Sub-District cricket season is only 10 days old but already Endeavour Hills has locked in two more internationals for 2022-23.

The Hills have announced that veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik and Sri Lankan Test batsman Lahiru Thirimanne will play for them next season.

And they’ve also unveiled young West Indies fast bowler Matthew Forde as another recruit.

Thirimanne, 32, played three matches for Endeavour Hills last season and in two innings scored 64 against Kew and 38 against Plenty Valley.

He returned to Sri Lanka to play in a Test series against India. But Endeavour Hills said the international calendar would allow him to play all of next season with the club.

“He brings a wealth of experience and depth to our club and we cannot wait for the pre-season to come any quicker,’’ the Hills said.

Tillakaratne Dilshan captaining Endeavour Hills last season.

Malik, 40, played 35 Tests for Pakistan, 287 ODIs and 124 Twenty20 matches.

He represented Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE late last year and recently played in the Pakistan Super League. Malik is one of the most travelled T20 players in the world.

Endeavour Hills president Arun Rajendran said the all-rounder would play only in the VSDCA T20 series, which didn’t go ahead last season because of Covid.

He said Forde’s participation next season would depend on the points situation.

The Hills have asked the VSDCA to assess Thirimanne as a four-pointer given he played three matches and there was a washout.

Rajendran confirmed that former West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who was supposed to join the squad last season, would play the second half of next season.

Sri Lankan great Tillakaratne Dilshan captained Endeavour Hills last season and is returning to Pargeter Reserve.

The right-hander had a good time of it with bat and ball, scoring 512 runs at 46.5 and 19 wickets at 15.8.

He led the Hills to second place on the ladder but they crashed out of the finals with successive losses in the north-east group.

The Second and Fourth XIs won the premierships.

Rajendran said the appearance of players of international standing had brought recruits, sponsors, support and exposure to Endeavour Hills.

The legendary Richard Saniga figured in the seconds premiership and retired after the match. He played more than 300 games and won a string of awards at the club.