Younis has not scored a limited-overs century since November 2008 and managed just 116 runs in the five-match series in South Africa earlier this year. PHOTO: AFP
The 35-year-old was last week left out of Pakistan’s 16-man squad for the five One-Day International (ODI) matches which follow the two-Test series against South Africa.
A veteran of 253 one-day matches, Younus has not scored a limited-overs century since November 2008 and managed just 116 runs in the five-match ODI series in South Africa earlier this year.
The senior batsman said he was shocked after failing to return to the 50-over format.
“I am surprised that I’m not in the one-day team, it’s shocking news for me,” said Younus ahead of the second Test. “After the last series, it was surprising for me, but life goes on, for me this is never easy.”
Asked if the 2015 World Cup was still on his mind, Younus replied: “I have said this before, it’s not 2015 or 2016, if you have the fitness you keep playing.
“I think when Imran [Khan] left he must have been 40-42,” said Younus of the former Pakistan captain, who retired after guiding Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992.
Younus retired from the shortest version of the game after guiding Pakistan to World Twenty20 win in England in 2009.
“The way I retired from the T20 format, I mention it repeatedly. People feel that I don’t want to play [one-day] and have told that to the cricket board, but there is no such thing. When I leave, I will hopefully leave with a bang.”
Tanvir hopes to gain from South Africa experience
Sohail Tanvir, who represented Highveld Lions in the Champions League T20 recently, thinks his experience of playing in South Africa will benefit him in the upcoming ODI series.
“I have a good experience of playing in South Africa,” Tanvir told the media on the opening day of the training camp for ODI players in Lahore. “I have played with or against most of their cricketers and am well aware of their strengths and weaknesses.”
Tanvir, recalled for the ODI format after more than a year in wilderness, thinks he is capable of playing in all formats of the game.
“I’ve played 50 ODIs. Although I didn’t get much chances in Tests, I’ve played four-day matches regularly. The T20 specialist tag on me is not appropriate.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2013.
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COMMENTS (2)
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As always, independent cricket boards/associations should be formed under the provinces. The PCB to be only a symbolic presence of the cricket structure. Let big business and local funding finance the associations to play cricket overseas and inter-provincially. Cricket will prosper over the whole country. In PCB only Punjab is profiting. Salams
Sohail Tanvir is useless cricketer with or without any experience. Anwar Ali should have been included in the team in place of Tanvir.