Younis Khan, the unused and unsung Gladiator of Cricket Empire.

This article was first published on 24th November, 2010. Therefore, all the stats are till then. 


Empires have never wasted their ripest Gladiators, you seldom see them not fighting. Cricket and particularly the Pakistan's cricket is not less than a combat for some players, who are in pursuit of survival of their careers more than performances. The malfunctioned fraternity of Pakistan's cricket is responsible for destroying careers of many players and one of them is Younis Khan. If Cricket were an empire then Younis Khan would have been a perfect gladiator to be sent for any combat but unfortunately he had enough hurdles to not get that recognition which he deserves. And even when he has performed to his level's best, his performance remained unsung due to some later controversy.

Cricket's gladiator after the drill.

Born in Mardan and coached by his late brother, Younis Khan made his debut against Srilanka in 2000 and scored century on debut. In first phase of his career, he wasn't a consistent selection but after his heroics in Pakistan's 2005 tour to India he didnt only become consistent but also became an ultimate choice to lead Pakistan. The batsman has been prolific for Pakistan, Surrey, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, South Australia and Habib Bank. Younis has clearly shown the guts to lead a team, if not due to batting then he would be remembered as 2nd pathan to triumph Pakistan in World Cup campaign and fans will never forget his smile which he spreads on field. He was also offered captaincy by Yorkshire in 2007 but he denied.

From 2005 to 2007, Younis Khan formed an invincible batting middle-order- with Yousuf and Inzamam- in Pakistan's XI. He is marvelous to see playing splendid sweeps on leg-side, and he is a sole resistor against spin, his pull shots and lofted- sweetly slaughtered- slogs on mid-on are also delight to watch, and who can forget his gestures after reaching a milestone. Apart from his batting skills, he is widely considered as man of dignity, who doesn't compromise on fatal things, that was the reason for denying captaincy many times, leaving captaincy once and struggling to get back in team because of corrupt management. Younis' behaviour on field is enough to make fans ecstatic if Pakistan is not performing well, leave alone the team mates he even goes to opposition's batsman and cuddle him for reaching hundred, even Umpires are seen embraced by Younis.

Younis! The Stats are yours.

The stats below will not only illuminate Younis' grandeur but also how he has been wasted and unused.

Prime form of Younis:

Currently Younis Khan is in his prime form, at this stage he has featured in 64 Matches, his batting average is 51.18 with 17 centuries and and 21 fifties. But amazing thing is that since January 2005 his batting average is 62.52 in 33 matches with 11 centuries.  In last 5 years, Younis Khan has consistetly averaged 50+ in every year from 2005 to 2010. Another feat is that his average didnt dwindle even when he was captain, he averages 55.85 in 9 matches he captained, his career best 313 also came as a captain which is also 5th highest socre by any batsman in Test cricket as captain.

When a batsman reaches 50 to 60 Tests, that'sthats the time when he picks his real form and class, and boosts his average. Those batsmen who have played 100 odd Tests, usually their 2nd phase of career is almost 50% better than their first phase. Younis Khan currently has average of 51.18 in 64 marches,  we shall see brief summary of some great batsmen.

Steve Waugh: After 64 matches he averaged 43.43, but at the end of his career he averaged 51.06

Kumar Sangakara: After 64 matches he averaged 50.64, and currently his average is 56.59

Rickey Ponting: After 64 matches he averaged 47.91, and currently his average is 54.68

Jacques Kallis: After 64 matches he averaged 50, and currently his average is 55.83

Worst part is that due to controversies, Younis was unable to play that much matches which he could. For Example, Sangakara made his debut after Younis Khan and by now he has played 92 matches. Kevin Pietersen, who made his debut after 5 years of Younis' debut, has played more matches than him. So even if Younis Khan manages to play next 5 more years he would hardly reach 100 test mark.

Younis Khan, the saviour!

Younis Khan is man of crisis, he loves to perform under-pressure, he has resiled Pakistan on many occasions as we saw him in recent Dubai Test against South Africa. Younis Khan has 4 centuries in 4th innings of a Test, and 3 of them resulted in draw and 3 of them are consecutive against South Africa. Only Gavaskar, Ponting and Sarwan has 4 centuries in 4th innings but all of them has played more than 80 Tests.

Younis' 4th innings average goes to whopping 62.00 with 806 runs, and with qualification of 500 runs, its the 2nd best average by any batsman in last 50 years, only Michael Hussey has better average than Younis in 4th innings.

Centuries in crises:

- 2005, Bengaluru: The innings which announced the real Younis Khan. Younis entered in third match at Bengaluru when Pakistan were 2 down in 7th over and then from there he managed to score mamoth 267 and later scored flashy 84 of 98 balls in 2nd innings to leave target of 383 for India and Pakistan won eventually and also drew the series.

- 2007, Lahore: Pakistan were bundled out for 206 in the 1st innings and then had to bat nearly 4 sessions in order to chase 457 set by South Africa. Younis Khan batted for 246 balls for his 130 and Pakistan saved the Test to salvage some pride.

- 2007, Kolkatta: Pakistan conceded lead of 150+ for India in Kolkatta Test and were given target of 345 in nearly a day. Pakistan were 4 down in 40th over but Younis Khan's anchoring display of 107* ensured a draw at Kolkatta. That was Younis' 3rd consecutive 4th innings century.

- 2009, Karachi: Pakistan returning back to Cricket after almost 14 months. Srilanka piled on massive 644 in Karachi and Pakistan had to score mamoth in order to secure match. And then Karachi witnessed one of the finest ever knocks played in Pakistan and by a Pakistan. Younis Khan became the only third Pakistan to score triple-century, his 313 just relished cricket-plagued nation!

- 2010, Dubai: Dubai hosted its maiden Test which was later savoured by Younis' another match-saving innings. Pakistan chasing 451 in nearly 4 sessions, Younis Khan remained unbeaten 131 in 230 balls, and at one stage it looked like Pakistan would chase the target though match ended as draw which was quite a respite for Pakistan.


Younis Khan, highly under-rated in ODI Cricket.

He has batting average of 32.48 in 207 matches but it does not reflect the real picture, his one fact is enough to prove him worthy of ODI Cricket and that his his all 6 centuries in ODIs have been match-winning centuries and 3 of them came while chasing target. Some of highlights are as followed:Dejected Younis Khan, due to performance or due to being unsung?

- Mohali 2007: Pakistan had already lost the first match and in 2nd match they were set target of 322 by India. And in chase to it, Younis Khan scored brilliant 117 in 110 balls and later cameo of Shahid Afridi clinched the humdinger.

- Mirpur 2008: It was final of Kitply Cup against India and Pakistan had lost badly to India in group game. Younis Khan was under real scrutiny after he had gone for two consecutive ducks against Bangladesh and India. Younis came to bat under crisis when Pakistan were 34-1 in 10th over, the first ball he faced was hit for boundary and he raised his bat to crowd to show that he can still hit boundaries after 2 ducks and later he ended up with 108 runs of 99 balls and Pakistan set mamoth target of 316 for India and eventually won the final.

- Karachi 2008: It was must win game for Pakistan in Asia Cup and Pakistan had lost to India earlier in series. India set 309 for Pakistan to win and it was Younis' 123* which sealed victory for Pakistan in clinical fashion.

All the stats above are worth to prove that Younis Khan has always alleviated Pakistan in adversity. Let it be Tests or ODIs even in Twenty20, his one stat is enough to prove that he is capable of T20 Cricket too, and that is Younis Khan had least percentage of dot balls in ICC World Twenty20 2009 in England[he played 123 balls out of which only 21 were dot balls]. And whenever he is asked or called back in team, he is always there to serve Pakistan. And on top of the list he is least controversial player and unlike others he is a fit player like a strong factory worker who is always at service.

A team-man sharing light moment with his mentor i.e late. Bob Woolmer

Super Trivia: Younis Khan became ICC's Number One Test batsman in March 2009 after his marathon 313, he was the first Pakistani to top the ICC rankings. He is also the fastest Pakistani batsman to reach 5000 test runs.

PS: This article was first published on 24th November, 2010. Therefore, all the stats are till then. 


Written and compiled by Mazher Arshad [ Facebook: www.facebook.com/mazher157 and Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/cricket_U ]