Younis honoured at Lord’s

LONDON: Legendary cricketer Younis Khan on Thursday was honoured at Lord’s in recognition of his remarkable career.

Talking to Geo News, Younis said that he felt truly honoured. “I am really enjoying this. Many players and my friends are here. I feel truly honoured”, he added.

Head coach Mickey Arthur said that the work ethic and the way Younis goes about his business is fantastic. “It has been a privilege and an honour to work with a player like Younis,” the coach said.

ODI and T20 skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said Younis deserved all the applause. “I have played with him in the last couple of years. He has been a thorough professional,” he said.

Wisden editor Lawrence Booth said that Younis’s classy 218 in the final Test of the summer at The Oval helped Pakistan square the series after successive defeats had left them in danger of squandering their win at Lord’s. “It was his 32nd Test hundred — and a reminder that his struggles earlier in the series had been a blip rather than part of a decline,” he said.

Replying to England’s first innings score of 328, Pakistan lost three wickets for 127 runs. Asad Shafiq and Younis rebuilt Pakistan’s innings, scoring 150 runs together. Asad departed after scoring 109, but Younis continued his fight and completed a double century. His innings helped Pakistan post 542, with a lead of 214 runs. Pakistan eventually won the Test by 10 wickets.

Former captain Shoaib Malik recalled some funny moments that he enjoyed with the veteran batsman.

“(He) always gives 100 percent and not a pounce less. I will miss that larger than life smile along with that laid back posture while chewing gum and throwing stones at me from the second slip,” he said.

“He is a cricketer who can fix bats, pads or gloves,” said Malik. “I have seen all the stuff in his bag. If I needed anything he was the only person to whom I would go.”