Test debut |
Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi, Feb 26-Mar 1, 2000 scorecard |
Last Test |
West Indies v Pakistan at Roseau, May 10-14, 2017 scorecard |
Test statistics |
|
ODI debut |
Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Karachi, Feb 13, 2000 scorecard |
Last ODI |
England v Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Nov 11, 2015 scorecard |
ODI statistics |
|
T20I debut |
England v Pakistan at Bristol, Aug 28, 2006 scorecard |
Last T20I |
New Zealand v Pakistan at Christchurch, Dec 30, 2010 scorecard |
T20I statistics |
|
First-class debut |
1998/99 |
Last First-class |
United Bank Limited v Sui Southern Gas Corporation at Hyderabad (Sind), Dec 3-6, 2017 scorecard |
List A debut |
1998/99 |
Last List A |
United Bank Limited v Water and Power Development Authority at Karachi, Jan 14, 2018 scorecard |
T20s debut |
Australia A v Pakistanis at Adelaide, Jan 13, 2005 scorecard |
Last T20s |
Abbottabad Region v Islamabad Region at Islamabad, Sep 13, 2015 scorecard |
One of Pakistan's modern batting greats, Younis Khan is the kind of man who responds best in adversity. A Test average of over 50, a triple-hundred, a famous double-hundred against India in India, and a brilliant rearguard partnership to clinch Pakistan's 3-0 Test whitewash over England, leave no doubt about his quality and class. He is also one of the most successful fielders for Pakistan, and can bowl respectable slow-medium. As a captain, Younis has enjoyed success in leading Pakistan to the world Twenty20 title in 2009.
Much of his persona evokes the idea of the quintessential Pathan warrior - committed, inspired, capable, and bearing the burden of conflict with fortitude and poise. Born in Mardan, a prominent city in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Younis moved at an early age to Karachi, where he caught the eye of Rashid Latif and Saeed Anwar at Malir Gymkhana, one of the city's renowned sports clubs. The relationship with Latif blossomed into a nurturing mentorship, guiding Younis towards entry onto the world stage. After two impressive domestic seasons, he got a Test call-up, and marked it with a century on debut.
Style and aesthetics are not his strongest points. His technique relies on a good deal of bottom hand, which deprives it of the fluidity and grace that is typical of Asia's best batsmen. Yet when Younis gets going, he produces results in the face of steep odds.
Indeed, the steeper the odds, the more Younis seems to thrive. His match-winning 267 and 84 not out in Bangalore came after a string of low scores prompted a sarcastic comment from the team manager that leaked into the media. His greatest captaincy feat - the world Twenty20 championship in England - was achieved weeks after Pakistan cricket had been devastated by the terror attacks in Lahore. And though his triple-century came at home on a flat track, the innings began under pressure when Younis, eschewing the nightwatchman, stepped out himself in the dying moments of the second day with Pakistan staring at a huge Sri Lankan total. Unsurprisingly for a rearguard specialist, Younis has emerged a master of the fourth innings. Among players with 1000 or more fourth-innings Test runs, his average is among the highest.
Along with these accomplishments, Younis's career has also seen turmoil. Inability to control infighting within the team and display tact with the PCB led to him losing the captaincy in late 2009, and he effected a moody refusal when circumstances changed and it was offered again. His nature is to be inward-looking and intensely focused, quietly fighting his way through. While this makes for a reclusive personality that shuns the media and runs afoul of officialdom, it has also been the source of Younis's batting strength and his extraordinary resilience as a cricketer.
Saad Shafqat
Batting and fielding averages
|
Mat |
Inns |
NO |
Runs |
HS |
Ave |
BF |
SR |
100 |
50 |
4s |
6s |
Ct |
St |
World Cup
|
19
|
18
|
2
|
349
|
72
|
21.81
|
493
|
70.79
|
0
|
2
|
23
|
1
|
9
|
0
|
ODIs
|
265
|
255
|
23
|
7249
|
144
|
31.24
|
9628
|
75.29
|
7
|
48
|
578
|
56
|
135
|
0
|
List A
|
351
|
331
|
36
|
9911
|
144
|
33.59
|
|
|
12
|
64
|
|
|
196
|
0
|
|
Mat |
Inns |
Balls |
Runs |
Wkts |
BBI |
BBM |
Ave |
Econ |
SR |
4w |
5w |
10 |
World Cup
|
19
|
2
|
42
|
41
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5.85
|
-
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
ODIs
|
265
|
20
|
284
|
288
|
3
|
1/3
|
1/3
|
96.00
|
6.08
|
94.6
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
List A
|
351
|
|
1169
|
1127
|
28
|
3/5
|
3/5
|
40.25
|
5.78
|
41.7
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Limited Overs Career Statistics
World Cup span |
- |
ODI debut |
Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Karachi, Feb 13, 2000 scorecard |
Last ODI |
England v Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Nov 11, 2015 scorecard |
List A debut |
1998/99 |
Last List A |
United Bank Limited v Water and Power Development Authority at Karachi, Jan 14, 2018 scorecard |
Despite a so-so ODI record and a poorer World Cup one, Younis Khan is the pivot around which Pakistan's batting line-up hinges. The veteran was never the big boundary-hitter but he is the man to string together an entire batting performance, either chasing a big target or setting the pace for one; in essence he is the cornerstone of the old Pakistan ODI philosophy of saving wickets till the very end, where others take over and bash away. He is the sharpest runner in the side so in a team notorious for not running well, he becomes that much more important.
Strengths
Despite not hitting as many boundaries, Younis keeps the run-rate ticking over nicely and is the best judge of singles and doubles in the squad. His experience and safe hands in the field will come into play. And if Pakistan come across India, he'll be key so good is his record against them.
Key stats
Younis had a superb 2008, averaging over 54 with three hundreds and six fifties. Since then however, he has scored just 750 runs in 34 innings at an average just over 22
In global tournaments, Younis is yet to score a single half-century. He has scored just 225 runs in 15 innings at an average of 16.07
All stats are updated till the start of the World Cup
World Cup tracker
He's been a part of two World Cup campaigns in 2003 and 2007 but has yet to make any kind of impression at the highest stage. In eight matches, his highest score is 32.
Expert view
"In Sri Lanka he will be very important because he plays spin so well. There are only a few guys in the side who pick up singles and doubles so well so he will be the anchor for the entire team."- Rashid Latif, former Pakistan wicket-keeper
Osman Samiuddin