Younus Khan may return to Twenty20 cricket
DUBAI: Pakistan skipper Younus Khan is ready to come out of retirement from Twenty20 cricket and play the two Twenty20 Internationals in Dubai on Nov 12 and 13.
‘If the team needs me and since [the] matches are to be held [here] in Dubai, it will be nice to play,’ Younus remarked here on Saturday.
Pakistan play a three-match one-day series and two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand with the first ODI in Abu Dhabi on Nov 3.
Younus, 31, retired from Twenty20 cricket after leading Pakistan to victory in the World Twenty20 in June in England. He is not the part of the Twenty20 squad for Dubai, being led by all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Asked what prompted him to return to Twenty20, Younus said: ‘A lot of people especially many youngsters told me it is important that I continue playing Twenty20 cricket too. If they still want and if my country still needs my service for this form of the game, then I am ready. I’ll do anything for my country and for my team-mates. So you may see me in Twenty20 cricket again.’
He had quit as captain over match-fixing allegations after Pakistan’s defeat in the Champions Trophy but the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to accept his resignation.
‘I have just come out of a huge controversy. This time my whole nation was behind me. I am happy each and every one in Pakistan backed me in the incident [resignation matter]. Today, my mind is free and I can concentrate on my captaincy and on my form as well as the team,’ Younus, who has accumulated 432 runs in 22 Twenty20 Internationals at an average of 25.41, stated.
He feels New Zealand will not be an easy team to beat despite absence of many of their top players due to injury.
‘The positive factor about New Zealand is that they play as a team. They do not depend on only one player and that is why they reached final of the Champions Trophy despite injuries to their top players. It will be tough competition here,’ Younus, a veteran of 63 Tests and 194 ODIs, said.
It was New Zealand that upset Pakistan’s chances of reaching the Champions Trophy final by beating them in the semi-final.
On whether this series would be a revenge series for Pakistan, Younus said: ‘It will not be a revenge series but we have a desire in our mind to defeat them [New Zealand]. We cannot easily forget our defeat to New Zealand in the semi-final.’
On New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori’s remark that pace bowler Mohammad Aamir will be the most dangerous man in the Pakistan team, Younus said: ‘We have many match-winners and not just Aamir.’—Agencies
