The former captain has also hit 1000 fours in the T20 format, becoming the first Pakistani to score 5000 T20 runs in Pakistan.
Right-handed batsman Shoaib Malik performed a unique feat for Pakistan during the ongoing National T20 Cup match between Sialkot Region and Rawalpindi Region at the UBL Sports Complex in Karachi on Sunday. 41-year-old Shoaib Malik, who has represented Pakistan in 446 international matches, became the first Pakistani batsman to hit 1000 fours as well as 400 sixes in 482 innings of T20 cricket.
He became only the 8th player in the history of cricket to achieve this milestone. He also hit 400 sixes in the shorter format and became the only Pakistani to do so so far. Asif Ali is second on the list with 291 sixes. Shoaib Malik is currently captaining Sialkot in the National T20 Cup and the right-handed batsman scored 84 runs off 56 balls with 10 fours to help his team set a target of 164 runs.
Shoaib Malik has also become the first Pakistani batsman to score 5000 T20 runs in Pakistan. In Pakistan, he has so far scored 5068 runs at an average of 46.93 and a strike rate of 135, including 42 fifties, while remaining not out 48 times in 156 innings. It is worth mentioning that Shoaib Malik had earlier expressed that he wants to break Chris Gayle's record of most runs in T20 cricket.
The all-rounder needs 1719 runs to make history as he currently has 12,843 runs in 482 innings of T20 cricket while Gayle has 14,562 runs in 455 innings. Considering how much Shoaib Malik has worked on his fitness over the years, it wouldn't be a surprise if he plays the shortest format of the game for a few more years and breaks Gayle's record.
It should be noted that Shoaib Malik is one of the longest serving cricketers in Pakistan cricket. Having made his international debut against the West Indies in Sharjah in October 1999, he is still playing at the top level 24 years after his debut. The all-rounder made his ODI debut in 1999 and then represented Pakistan in 287 ODIs where he scored 7534 runs at an average of 34.55 while also taking 158 wickets.
Shoaib Malik's Test career was short as the all-rounder played just 35 matches in total, scoring 1898 runs at 35.14 with a career best score of 245 against England in the UAE in 2015. He also took 32 Test wickets. In T20Is, the 41-year-old scored 2435 runs at an average of 31.21 with a strike rate of 125.64, he also took 28 wickets in 49 innings.