Wasim pins hopes on young guns

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram on Saturday hoped that the youngsters would take up the roles of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan fast.

In a statement, Wasim praised the services of Younis for Pakistan cricket. “My first partnership with Younis in his debut Test showed me that this guy had the x-factor required to succeed at this level,” the former captain said.

He said that Younis’ retirement would leave a huge void to fill, but it was time for “the younger kids to follow his example”.

About Misbah, Wasim said that he had huge respect for him and his captaincy as they had been together at Islamabad United.

“His Test record speaks for itself and now that he is retiring, I fear for our Test team,” Wasim added.

“I hope the younger guys take up Misbah and Younis’ roles fast. The young guns have to follow examples of these two,” he added.

Younis ended his Test career as Pakistan’s leading Test scorer, the only Pakistani to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket, while Misbah stepped out of international cricket as Pakistan’s most successful captain in the longest format of the game.

The batting duo was named among Wisden Cricketers of the year in April.

End of an era

Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq put together 15-century partnerships in Test cricket.

They scored 3156 runs in 49 innings together which is the highest by any pair for Pakistan in Test cricket.

They went past the tally of 3137 runs scored in 42 stands by Mohammad Yousuf and Younis.

In Pakistan cricket, be it batting or bowling, there have always been some glorious partnerships which took their cricket forward — Imran  Khan and Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis — and most recently Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan.

Misbah, with a quiet aura, has taken his country forward despite several downs with Younis supporting him at the other end. Together they forged some memorable partnerships and brought out some mind-boggling numbers.

The 175-run stand between Younis and Misbah last year against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi was the highest for the fourth wicket for Pakistan in Tests against West Indies. They went past 174-run stand between Saleem Malik and Shoaib Mohammad in Karachi in 1990.

In the second innings of the first Test in Dubai in 2010, South Africa were in a strong position and left Pakistan a stiff target of 451. With Pakistan at 157/3, Misbah and Younis came together and defended comprehensively against a potent attack of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Pakistan finally managed to finish on 343 for 3.

Their highest partnership came against Sri Lanka during the first Test of their series in 2013-14. Pakistan bowled Sri Lanka out for 204 in the first innings but were tottering at 83 for 3 when it was their turn to bat. Younis and Misbah both scored hundreds as they batted Pakistan into a dominant position. The match, however, ended in a draw.

In the third Test of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2015, Pakistan had to chase 377 to win. Younis and opener Shan Masood put together a partnership of 242 runs, but when Masood was dismissed, there were still 122 runs left to get. Younis and Misbah got them quickly, scoring 127 in less than 30 overs and completing Pakistan’s highest-ever chase.