INTERVIEW: Younis Khan refusing to live on past glories

Joy Chakravarty 07:01 29/10/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Younis is Pakistan's all-time Test run-scorer.

    Last month, when Pakistan toured Zimbabwe for an ODI series, Younis Khan’s name was missing from the squad, which led to an uncharacteristic outburst against the selectors from the Karachi star.

    Point out that incident to Wasim Akram, and he has a very interesting observation: “Younis really has been a most selfless servant of Pakistan cricket. And anyway, he gets angry once in 10 years, so let’s give him that pleasure once in his career.”

    That pretty much sums up the most successful batsman ever produced by Pakistan, who turns 38 today. During the first Test match against England in Abu Dhabi, Younis crossed Javed Miandad’s record aggregate of 8,832 runs, having already made the most number of centuries for his country – 31, including one last Sunday in Dubai.

    He made his debut in the year 2000 in characteristic fashion, making a battling century in the second innings against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. And during his entire journey of 15 years and scoring more than 9,000 runs, one thing has remained constant with Younis apart from his insatiable hunger for runs – his ever-present smile.

    Bowlers and fielders have tried all kinds of tricks to get to his fuse. All attempts have been futile, stonewalled by his wide grin and genial eyes. Younis is out there to make friends and not even the ultra competitiveness of modern-day sport can change that.

    Speaking to Sport360, Younis said: “I am forever trying to make new friends on the cricket field. I have always been taught that cricket is a gentlemen’s game and it should be played like a gentleman.

    “One of the most amazing things about cricket is that when we go to India, or when they come to Pakistan, we have our flag flying in their country and we have their national anthem being played in our country. This thing cannot happen in normal course. I guess it is the same with England and Australia, or any other country. That is the power of sports.

    “We are all ambassadors of our countries, and I keep telling the youngsters that they have this great opportunity…they should enjoy it, keep praising other players and keep making more friends by being nice to everybody.”

    The last few days have been a whirlwind for Younis. He has been creating one record after another. Miandad’s 8,832 run was the summit. Now that it has been conquered, the world is his oyster. He has already reset his goal and is eyeing the 10,000 run mark. But Younis said he started playing cricket with just one objective, and that remains the same after all these years.

    “I was just a typical small-town Pakistan boy, who used to derive great pleasure watching players like Imran Khan and Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram playing cricket,” he said. “If there was something I wanted to do growing up, it was to somehow get a chance to play cricket with these heroes of mine, spend time with them and most importantly, learn something from them.

    “Like any other youngster, I just wanted to do something for my country. And that ambition still remains. I don’t want to think about what I have done, I only think about what I can still do. That’s my philosophy of life.

    “I have more than 9,000 runs, I have got performances against India in india, against Australia in Australia and against England in England. I have got 30 centuries, and a World T20 trophy, but I don’t want to think about all that. I want to think about tomorrow, and what more I can do for my country.

    “It is an extremely amazing feeling for me that I am being counted among the elite of Pakistan cricket. If Allah is kind and helps me get 10,000 runs, that would be something. I am going to try hard for that, I am working on my fitness and on my focus.

    “These last two-three years, I get a lot of attention wherever I go…in the airports, in the shopping malls, in other countries… I have got a lot of fame and respect from the fans and others. I have tried to live with it. I have tried hard not to let these things change me. I don’t ever want to get a thought in my head that I have become bigger than the game.

    “It is important for me to perform, but as a good Muslim player, I also want to be good example for the younger players, someone who can teach them how to play this game in the right way.”

    And even though Younis loves to stay happy and smiles at all times – “it doesn’t cost anything and others feel good,” he says – a tinge of sadness envelops him when you ask him about cricket in Pakistan.

    “I am just a normal human being and I do get affected by the same things as others. But the one thing that saddens me immensely is the absence of cricket in Pakistan,” said Younis, who has scored one triple century and four double hundreds in 103 Test matches.

    “How are we supposed to promote and motivate youngsters given the situation we have. I hope things become normal in Pakistan so that the kids can play all sports.

    “There is no cricket in Pakistan, and we are struggling. But the Pakistan Cricket Board is making all effort to keep the sport alive. We come to play our home series in the UAE, and we play in such heat. We are away from our friends and families for a long time. We are away from the home fans.

    “But we cannot think of those things. We have a responsibility towards Pakistan cricket, and we should be ready to make any sacrifice we can as players.”

    Recommended