Abu Dhabi: Pakistan’s highest scorer in Tests, Younis Khan, will be back in the team for the second Test against the West Indies, starting at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium on Friday.
Younis was in Dubai for the first Test after recovering from dengue fever but missed the match on medical advice.
Younis though expressed his disappointment on missing out on Pakistan’s 400th Test and their first day-night match — but was happy that his team started the Test series on a high.
“I’m very happy the way Pakistan won the Test, the way Azhar (Ali) scored a triple hundred and joined that elite group as there are not many from Pakistan,” said Younis, who turns 39 next month, adding that it was important to keep the momentum going.
“I was watching the match and was very excited when on the last day there were ups and downs. The way West Indies fought and Darren Bravo scored that fighting hundred. So it’s pleasing when youngsters play like this. When you win the first Test your responsibility increases and you need to keep the momentum, it’s important that you win one match and then don’t get relaxed,” said Younis, who requires another 544 runs to become the first Pakistani batsman to make 10,000 Test runs having already scored 32 centuries.
The veteran of 108 Tests, however, revealed that he wasn’t thinking about the records for the moment and his focus was to put up a good show in the second Test where he will be replacing Babar Azam.
“I have said every match is very important. I never go after records, it’s my wish to be in that elite group of 10,000 runs because there is no Pakistani in that group. I pray to Allah that I get those runs quickly so that one Pakistani comes in that group,” said Younis, who time and again has proved critics wrong — that he is not over the hill and there is plenty of cricket left in him.
In August against England he scored a brilliant double hundred in the final Test at the Oval to help Pakistan level the four-Test series 2-2. It will be interesting to see how he goes about his business here.
“I think all my improvement in cricket has a hand of critics, I take it as positive. I never do it to show to someone. We are human beings and we make mistakes but good people are those who learn from their mistakes.
“When they criticise me I go deep and analyse what wrong I have done. I want to play for my country, for my family and for my fans. Maybe I don’t get to come and play on these grounds so I enjoy whatever chance I get,” said Younis, who also feels that Pakistan’s Test team is a settled unit now and has a good chance to play in New Zealand and Australia and win there.
“We certainly have a good chance now. If I’m part of the team, which wins in New Zealand and Australia it will be a big achievement and it’s like a dream come true for me and the entire nation,” said Younis, who is also in support of an India-Pakistan series in the wake of political turmoil between the two neighbouring nations now that both teams have occupied the top two spots in world cricket.
“Look, India and Pakistan are two giants of cricket so whatever be the situation between the two nations it must be forgotten and cricket should be played. Millions of people follow that and people follow both the teams, they should play and play regularly. I have said this before and say this again that we must keep politics and sports separate,” he insisted.
