Current, former PCB officials praise Younus

Shaharyar, Sethi, others eulogise Man from Mardan for historic achievement


Nabil Tahir April 25, 2017
Photo: AFP

KARACHI: After Younus Khan became the first Pakistani to join a select group of 13 players who have scored 10,000 runs in Test cricket, a number of local greats sang his praises and credited the Mardan-born’s courage, determination and pluckiness for getting to where he is.

The retiring 39-year-old began his innings 23 runs short of a myriad, and after taking his time, he reached the coveted career milestone by sweeping off-spinner Roston Chase.

Younus Khan becomes first Pakistani to reach 10,000 Test runs


Now a member of an extremely exclusive club, Younus fist-pumped, saluted the dressing room and pointed to the crest on his shirt.

The occasion earned him a standing ovation there and then, and now former cricketers have lined up to pay their tributes to arguably Pakistan’s best-ever and most reliable Test batsman.

“This is a great moment for Pakistan and especially for Younus who has done so much for cricket and has reached this milestone,” Jalaluddin told The Express Tribune. “The moment he reached the 10000-run mark, I bet each and every Pakistani was proud of him.”

Former chief selector Sallahuddin Sallu was next in line, saying the ‘dedication, concentration and application’ displayed by Younus throughout his career remains second to none.

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“Those three traits have played a major part in elevating his game to this level,” said ex-selector Sallu before claiming: “He is the only player after Hanif Muhammad with such an ability.”

Sallu also reminded how Younus, a straightforward personality, kept himself away from Pakistan cricket’s shenanigans and always remained a team player for whom individual glory was only peripheral detail.

“He remained unblemished; no one can blame him for anything. He is also a player who was never after captaincy and always focused on his cricket, which in turn benefited the team,” he said.

Haroon Rasheed, another former selector, agreed with Sallu’s assessment of Younus, saying: “He has never been involved in scandals, which makes him an even bigger cricketer.”

For Younus to join the 10k club is even more impressive as unlike other members of the club he has achieved the feat in an era when Test cricket has had to share the stage with two other fledgling formats.

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“In the olden times, the players who scored this many runs were Test cricket specialists,” said Raheed. “But Younus played all three formats of cricket and even then he piled up so many runs, which is a testament to his greatness.”

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan wasn’t far behind, saying: “Younus has been an excellent ambassador of Pakistan cricket. The number of records he has set in the recent past are something we as a nation can take great pride in.

“I congratulate him on rewriting the record book [again] and hope he carries the form in the series to win Test series against West Indies.”

Chairman Executive Committee Najam Sethi also chimed in, adding: “Younus Khan has been a great servant to Pakistan’s cricket. He is a run machine and has carried the Test team along with captain Misbahul Haq for years now. I also congratulate him on completing 10,000 Test

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