Cricket: Pakistan keeping it simple says Younis
Pakistan thrashed their rivals in the first match on Friday by eight wickets and Younis hopes the team sticks to the same plan.
"We kept things simple in the Tests as well," said Younis of the preceding three-Test series which Pakistan won 1-0.
"Now in the one-dayers we are doing the basics in a simple manner and although there is no assurance of winning we want consistency in our performance."
Pakistan bowled Sri Lanka out for a paltry 131 in 40.3 overs on the back of 3-27 by returning all-rounder Shahid Afridi, ably supported by off-spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal who took two wickets apiece.
They then chased down the target for the loss of only two wickets to go 1-0 up in the five-match series.
Younis said Pakistan has more match winners than Sri Lanka.
"This Pakistan team is one of the best I have played in," said the 34-year-old who hit an unbeaten half-century in the first match.
"Sri Lanka also have four to five match winners but we are doing well in both batting and bowling."
Younis praised former coach Waqar Younis for putting the team on the right track.
"Waqar did a wonderful job before the World Cup," said Younis of the event where Pakistan lost in the semi-finals against eventual champions India.
"From that point Waqar stressed on our fitness and we were the only side who had no injuries during the World Cup."
Waqar quit the post after the tour of Zimbabwe in September and was replaced by an interim coach Mohsin Khan.
Younis said the Pakistan team has been playing well since October last year, two months after the spot-fixing scandal in England which ended in jail sentences for former Test captain Salman Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
"We were unlucky to lose the one-day series against South Africa 3-2," said Younis of the series played in the United Arab Emirates last year.
"Then we had series wins in New Zealand, Ireland and Zimbabwe so we have been doing well."
Younis said he wanted to be a role model for the youngsters.
"Even when I am not the captain, younger players listen to me and I am a role model in the team, so its nice and I want to play for four-five more years and my goal is that my team continues to win," said Younis.
Younis led Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title in England in 2009 before he quit the post after clashes with several players.
The remaining matches will be played in Dubai (November 18), Sharjah (November 20) and Abu Dhabi (November 23). Both teams also play a Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on November 25.
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Just to show other readers why YK is better than Zaheer in Tests http://j.mp/sUxl5o
( I hope Tribune will post my comment)
The spot fixers are already gone, so it has to be simple to win matches, cheers
@Syed: It was not his day. We have to accept it now that we lost the semi final and should look forward.
@Ayaz F. Farooqi: Its true YK is the best No 3 "TEST" batsman in Pakistan history. In ODIs Zaheer Abbas was much better than YK.
Agreed that he's one of the most under-rated cricketers. Younis Khan has been a very able servant of Pakistan cricket. I have been following cricket for nearly 35 years, and I can say with complete responsibility that he's the best No. 3 batsman that Pakistan has ever had, and mind you that also includes Zaheer Abbas!
What happened to him against india in semi final? :S
He is talking less and performing more, a sign of a great cricketer.
One of the most under rated player I have ever seen. A role model for every youngster.