Zayn Malik still close to Liam Payne

London, March 24 (IANS) Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik says he is still in touch with the band's singer Liam Payne.

Malik hasn't actually seen any of his former bandmates -- including Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson -- since he left the popular British group a year ago but does have regular phone contact with Payne, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“I'm still probably the closest to Liam. We talk on the phone. He congratulated me on my single, which was nice. I congratulated him on his Brit Award,” Malik told NME magazine.

“It was a good chat. We haven't met up in a long time so we want to meet up,” he added.

But Malik insists the lack of contact with the rest of the group isn't his fault.

“I tried to have contact, but nobody's reached out. So... whatever,” he said.