Younis to retire after West Indies Tests
Younis Khan, the Pakistan batsman, will retire from international cricket after his country’s three-Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean.
Younis, 39, confirmed his decision on Saturday (April 8), signalling the end of a 17-year international career that began in 2000.
He has played 115 Tests so far and scored 9,977 runs at an average of 53.06, with 34 centuries – including one on debut – and 32 half-centuries. No other Pakistan batsman has scored as many runs or centuries in the format. Younis is also the only cricketer in the world to score centuries in 10 Test-hosting countries and in the West Indies.
"I will be retiring from international cricket after the West Indies series with my head held high," the batsman told a press conference in Karachi.
"I think this is the right time as every sportsman has to take this decision in his career. A time comes in every player's life when he has to decide and I always tried my best to serve my country with my head high. No player always remains fit, the motivation never remains the same, so this is the time when Younis should leave the field after the upcoming series in West Indies."
Apart from his numerous records in Test cricket, Younis has also played 265 One-Day Internationals for 7,249 runs, apart from 25 Twenty20 Internationals. It included a successful World T20 campaign in 2009, when Younis led Pakistan to their maiden title.
Recalling some tough times, Younis said one of the worst moments of his career was when Pakistan lost its coach Bob Woolmer during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies.
Woolmer coached Pakistan from 2004 to 2007 but passed away in Jamaica. After lengthy investigations, Jamaican police announced that Woolmer had died of natural causes.
"Those were very sad days for me," Younis remembered.
Younis will be the second Pakistani legend to retire after the Test series, with Misbah-ul-Haq, the Test captain, also deciding to call time on his international career at the end of the series.
The duo was named among the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack’s five Cricketers of the Year for 2016.
Paying handsome tribute, Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan skipper, said, “He (Younis) is still fit but there is always a time when you have to decide about leaving. He has set many records which proves his greatness. Whenever he played, he played with his heart and commitment. It will be tough to replace players like Younis and Misbah, so Pakistan will have to work hard in Tests without them."
Younis said he would remain associated with cricket following his retirement. "Even though I will be retired from playing, my services will still be available for cricket," he said.
The first Test between West Indies and Pakistan begins in Jamaica on April 22, with the final Test to be played from May 10 in Dominica.