15 Facts about Younis Khan – The Most Consistent Pakistan Batsman

15 Facts about Younis Khan – The Most Consistent Pakistan Batsman: Being the highest run-getter in Tests for Pakistan speaks a lot about the talent of the ‘Khan of Mardan’ Younis Khan. He remained as a fulcrum for his side being the crucial 1-down batsman. Younis on most occasions answered all the emergency calls from his team with his consistent batting. Over the years, he proved to be a real run-machine and played one better knock than other.

One of the classiest batsmen from Pakistan, he might not be the most gifted player but had the hunger to do keep performing at the highest level and that is how he is able to play his best cricket even at the ripe age of 37.

Here are some interesting facts about Younis Khan:

1. Birth:

Mohammad Younis Khan was born on November 29, 1977, at Mardan, North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

2. Cricket guidance in early years:

As a young boy, Younis Khan was brought up in Karachi. The then Pakistani wicket-keeper Rashid Latif spotted his cricketing talent and guided him in the sport and as destiny would have it, both of them were once playing together for the national side.

3. Debut:

He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at a young age of 22. Coming down at No.7 he scored a quick 46 even though Pakistan ended up losing the match. He also became just the seventh batsman for Pakistan to score a century on Test debut when he made 107 in 250 balls against Sri Lanka in the same series, but sadly even this score couldn’t prevent Sri Lanka from winning the Test match.

4. Most catches as a substitute fielder:

In 2001, Younis Khan was the 12^th man in a Pakistan match against Bangladesh at Multan. The centurion of the match, Saeed Anwar, had to leave the match in the middle due to personal reasons and Younis Khan took the field for him. He then took four catches in that innings, all off Danish Kaneria’s bowling and broke Bert Strudwick’s 97-year-old record of three. He equaled Gursharan Singh’s record of four catches by a substitute in a match.

5. Maiden ODI century:

Younis scored a blistering maiden century in a winning cause when he scored 144 of just 122 balls against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup at Colombo in 2004.

6. Double ton in Bangalore:

7 Test centuries later, he finally reached the 200 mark in Bengaluru in a Test match against India when he scored 267 which included thirty-two fours and a six, then being the highest score by a visiting batsman in India and this ensured Pakistan a 168-run win.

7. A bowling spell to remember in English county:

When he played for Nottinghamshire in 2005, he bowled a magical spell to reach figures of 3/5 in just three overs. He took the last three wickets of Gloucestershire including the prized wicket of Ramnaresh Sarwan which got them a win in the match.

8. Sheffield Shield:

Younis Khan represented the South Australian side in the Sheffield Shield tourney in late 2008. In his maiden match, he had scored 118. In all, he played two first-class games and three one-day games for the side.

9. Average in Test cricket:

Other than the likes of Don Bradman and the great Herbert Sutcliffe, he is just the third person to average over 50 in each inning of a Test match. As of November 29, 2014, his numbers read: 54.25 (First), 56.54 (Second), 50.34 (Third) and 52.81 (Fourth). He also has an average of 76.70 in winning causes for Pakistan. He’s just behind Inzamam-ul-Haq who averages 78.60 in winning causes.

10. IPL journey:

Younis Khan represented the Rajasthan Royals in the first and only season of IPL where Pakistani players played for IPL. He played only one match where he scored just 3 runs.

11. The 35-second over:

Younis Khan who occasionally bowls in County matches in 2007, his team Yorkshire gave him to bowl an over when they were reeling to avoid a slow-over rate. He did a lot to help that when he bowled a record over in just 35 seconds.

12. Captaincy:

His first act as a captain was in 2005 in a disastrous series against West Indies. But he also helped Pakistan in winning a Test match against India in Karachi. But after Champions Trophy first round exit, he refused to continue as the captain. Shoaib Malik was handed over the role as his replacement.

13. Century against all Test playing nations:

He is the only Pakistani cricketer to record centuries against all Test playing nations.

14. ODI retirement:

Younis Khan announced his retirement on November 11, 2015, saying that the first ODI between Pakistan and England would be his last one. “During my 15-year long association with ODI cricket, I always tried my best to play positive cricket for my team both as captain and as a player. But now I feel that the time has come when I should call it a day from one day cricket,” Younis Khan said on his retirement. He has scored 7249 runs in the 265 matches he has played for his side. He had retired in T20Is after Pakistan’s victory in T20 World Cup 2009.

15. His record against India:

Younis Khan loves playing India and he averages 88.06 against India in Test cricket, his best against any side. In ODIs as well, he has been most effective against India, scoring three of his six centuries against them.

Also check out: 5 Best knocks of Younis Khan