Waqar hints at Younis return for tough SA clash

AUCKLAND: When Younis Khan got out for a golden duck in Pakistan’s embarrassing 150-run defeat against West Indies in Christchurch, many thought that the former captain’s World Cup was over.
Many in fact thought that his One-day international career was over after the veteran batsman flopped in yet another match of the 50-over format.
But all of them should think again because there is a big possibility that Younis could return to the Pakistan line-up as early as their next Pool B game against South Africa here at Eden Park on Saturday (tomorrow).
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis told ‘The News’ that such is his team’s top order worries that the team management might think about recalling Younis despite his indifferent form.
“We are certainly worried about our top order especially ahead of a tough game against South Africa,” Waqar said after his team’s 129-run triumph against UAE in Napier on Wednesday.
“We will sit down together and try to find ways and means to strengthen the batting order. We will think about different options and that includes recalling Younis,” he said.
Pakistan had excluded Younis Khan from their World Cup plans months before the tournament began in Australia and New Zealand last month. But the middle-order star forced the national selectors to change their mind with a series of hundreds in Tests as well as an ODI ton against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last December.
But after getting a place in the World Cup squad Younis has failed to impress much with 25 in a World Cup warm-up against Bangladesh in Sydney being his highest score in nine outings since that 103 in Abu Dhabi against the Black Caps.
In the World Cup, he was fielded as opener against India but was dismissed cheaply before falling to Jerome Taylor in the game against West Indies.
Because of such a dismal background, it seemed unlikely that Pakistan would look towards Younis in the remaining games of the World Cup.
But Waqar squashed that impression saying that Younis might still have a role to play in the 14-nation tournament.
“There is future for Younis in this World Cup,” he said. “After all he is our senior most player. He is the most experienced batsman and we certainly have a role for him in this World Cup.”
But the problem with playing Younis is that the team management can only create space for him in the line-up by playing him as an opener in place of the misfiring Nasir Jamshed.
But being a nervous starter who struggles against pacers bowling with the new ball, Younis seems to have little chances of succeeding against South Africa’s potent pace attack at the top of the order.
“We will discuss all that during our team meeting and will try to field our best possible combination against South Africa,” Waqar said. “To make our presence felt in this tournament we need to beat top teams and it would be great if we begin with South Africa.”