Watch: Younis Khan marches into a guard of honour by Jason Holder and the West Indies team

Dominica might be the stage for the third and final Test in a riveting series of Test cricket between Pakistan and West Indies. But Dominica will also bid farewell to the fourth innings colossus that is Younis Khan, and veteran skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, a batsman who defied age. Their departure would undoubtedly leave an unfathomable void in Pakistan’s cricket. Amidst a mixture of sadness and reverence for the duo, fans shared memories of their Herculean efforts which lit up the cricket field on many an occasion.

Many found it hard to believe that their heroics would no longer make headlines in the cricketing fraternity. Former Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali worded the effect of Younis and Misbah’s impending retirement with, “For us, it’s hard to register that they won’t be in the dressing room after this series; we can’t imagine life without Misbah and Younis.”

A rain-curtailed Day 1 in Roseau witnessed Younis Khan walk out for his penultimate innings of an illustrious international career, or if things went well for Pakistan’s bowlers, his last. It heralded the most memorable instance of the afternoon, as the West Indies players formed a guard of honor to allow Pakistan’s most decorated batsmen to pass through. Younis Khan duly obliged to his opposition’s noble gesture. He marched into a respectful and reverent round of applause from the thin crowd that had gathered in Dominica. Younis then shook hands with Jason Holder as a token of gratitude for his team’s salute and then drew him in with a warm embrace. Following an overflow of emotions, Pakistan’s most prolific run-scorer stood firm at the crease, seeing his side through without any further hiccups on Day 1.

Pakistan’s only member of the 10K club is all set to enthrall cricket aficionados with one final swing of the wand. The cricketing fraternity would sorely miss a man who exhibited rock-like defense, executed a variety of sweeps to perfection and plucked balls from thin air in the slip cordon. The gesture from Jason Holder and his men summed up a career brimming with milestones.

Moment of the day. #WIvPAK #Dominica #MisYou
Courtesy @PTVSp0rts pic.twitter.com/KYPV1Y99Kr

— Akber Ali (@AkberAli2611) May 10, 2017