Shoaib Malik hits out at Pakistan media and trolls over India match at World Cup, clarifies on when the dinner had actually taken place and says 'keep families out of petty discussions'

Shoaib Malik has taken on the Pakistan trolls who have been attacking him, and especially his wife and Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza, following Pakistan's defeat to India at the World Cup over a video that had emerged and gone viral of members of Team Pak having dinner at a restaurant in the lead-up to the match.

The video was passed around in the aftermath of the match in a manner so as to portray that it had taken place on Saturday night - the eve of the match. However, Malik, while taking on the trolls, has clarified that it was from two days before that.

He begins by asking when Pakistani media would be held accountable for their credibility by the country's judiciary. He then states his long career in International Cricket and says it's a sad thing that he's had to clarify on something related to his personal life in such a manner. He has shared an Indian news report for the full clarification wherein the PCB had also stated that no curfew was violated by the Pakistan team ahead of the big match which they lost by 89 runs (D/L Method), as a result of which India extended its stunning record over Pakistan at World Cups to 7-0.

"When will Pak media be accountable for their credibility by our courts?!," Malik asked.

He then added, "Having served my country for +20 years in Intl Cricket, it’s sad that I have to clarify things related to my personal life. The videos are from 13th June and not 15th"

READ | Amid Furore Over Sarfaraz's Yawn And Pakistan Players' Night Out, PCB Issues Clarification Following Loss To India At World Cup

Going one step further, Malik, speaking as an athlete, requested media and people to maintain respect for the families of athletes, imploring them to not drag family-members into petty discussions.

"On behalf of all athletes, I would like to request media and people to maintain respect levels in regards to our families, who should not be dragged into petty discussions at will. It’s not a nice thing to do," he wrote.

Earlier, a video had surfaced where Malik, Sania Mirza, Wahab Riaz and other Pakistan players were out for dinner at a Sheesha restaurant. The video was worked into the post-match polemics by Pakistan trolls who attributed it for the team's below-par display in the showpiece encounter, with Malik getting out for a duck and Captain Sarfaraz yawning during the match.

Beyond a point, the Pakistan trolls had targeted Sania Mirza who had responded, her response also making clear that the dinner hadn't been on the eve of the match:

READ | Sania Mirza Responds To Veena Malik's 'sheesha Hazardous For Kids' Worry, Also Says 'I'm Not Pakistan Team's Dietician, Mother, Principal Or Teacher' After Pak Trolls' Attack