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Retired cricketer Younis Khan has been placed among legends of the Pakistani cricket team. Khan was born on November 29, 1977, in Mardan, Pakistan. In the team, Khan played the role of a middle-order right-handed batsman and could also bowl right-arm medium. He is one of the only Pakistani cricketers who has scored 10,000+ runs in tests, comprising six double tons.
Mohammad Younis Khan, more popularly known as Younis Khan, has been a part of several other teams worldwide, like the Rajasthan Royals and the Yorkshire Cricket Team. Younis Khan stands alone as the sole Pakistani player to score centuries in all 11 countries that have hosted Test cricket to date. This amazing talent from Pakistan has been one of the greatest contributors to the Pakistani cricket team. His contribution can never be nullified by anyone, even in the generations to come.
The Pakistani cricket sensation tied the knot with Amna on March 30, 2007, and they were blessed with three children: two sons and one daughter. His family life has been very turbulent, and he has had to face many deaths within just one year. In 2005, when his father died, he had to fly back to Pakistan from one of his tours to Australia. Later that same year, he even lost his brother, Mohammad Sharif Khan, in a tragic car accident, who, according to Khan, was the one who taught him to play cricket.
Younis Khan also faced a lot of trouble, and he expressed his extreme grief after the death of Bob Woolmer in March 2007. Khan stated that after his father's death, he saw Bob as his second father, with whom he could share most of his thoughts about cricket or anything else in general.
Younis Khan keeps himself involved in many other recreational activities besides playing cricket. He is mostly known to enjoy fishing when he is not playing or engaged in anything related to cricket.
Khan started playing for the Southern Redbags in the Australian domestic circuit. He was a part of this team for a very short period of time. Khan played county cricket for Nottinghamshire, England, in the year 2005 too. Moreover, in the English Domestic Cricket season, he played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. This made Younis Khan the third overseas Asian player to play for Yorkshire, joining the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh.
Khan's county championship debut had not been fruitful. He even scored a disappointing 4 runs in 4 balls in the very first innings and just 12 runs in his second innings. But, later that year, in the Friends Provident Trophy against Nottinghamshire, Khan hit an excellent 100 in 92 balls, thus leading Yorkshire to victory.
Younis Khan is also regarded as the first player to score a century and a double century in the same match. In the season's third match, he managed this achievement in the County Championship game against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.
Moreover, in 2008, Younis was signed for the IPL and was drafted by the Rajasthan Royals for a bid of US$225,000. But he just played one match against Kings XI Punjab and has not been seen playing in the IPL since then.
This amazingly talented right-handed Pakistani batsman made his international debut against Sri Lanka in an ODI held in Karachi in February 2000. He also made his test debut in the same year, and since then, he has played in over 110 test matches until his retirement.
Throughout his career as a cricketer, Younis Khan has been a part of several tournaments. With his excellent performance and amazing skills, he has been able to attract his team's attention and become a nightmare for the opposition. Everyone today sees him as one of the bright talents who took the name of the Pakistan Cricket Team to great heights.
The right-handed batsman was a part of the ICC Cricket World Cups held in 2003, 2007, and 2011, where he played a total of 11 matches. The tournament of 2007 yielded the most favourable results, where he scored 72 against Sri Lanka and 50 against Kenya. From the 96 matches that Khan has been a part of, his average is above 50, his runs scored are more than 8000, and he has a total of 28 centuries.
As a cricketer, Younis Khan has had an excellent career. Through his amazing performance, he was able to grab the attention of millions of people, who today are his most ardent followers. His name is currently on the sixth rank on the list of most run-getters for the Pakistan Cricket Team in ODIs. Khan has also scored the maximum number of runs and the maximum number of centuries for Pakistan, thus establishing himself as one of the greatest Pakistani cricketers.
Younis Khan is widely recognised as one of the world's finest players against spin bowling. His favourite and most common shot is a flick, particularly since he is very strong on his left side, but it has also been his biggest drawback. He is also skilled at getting down on one knee and driving extravagantly. The main weakness of Khan that bowlers exploited was that he played away from his body. That made him miss the straight ones quite often. He is a skilled infielder, too.
Though his techniques and style of playing have sometimes been his shortcomings, they have also led him toward victory. His unique style of playing cricket and his amazing technique against spin bowling make him a renowned name in the Pakistan Cricket team.
Khan has been respected with several prestigious awards and received a lot of recognition for his amazing performance. He was awarded the Pride of Performance by Pakistan's President on March 23, 2010. Again, on March 23, 2018, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan.
Khan was also put in the PCB Hall of Fame. The PCB Hall of Fame recognizes all the contributions and sacrifices made by some of the real role models in the arena of sports that can never be swiped away from history.
Moreover, the Pakistani star was also honoured in the Lords' post-retirement ceremony for his remarkable career and contribution to the field of cricket. Along with this, he was also named in the World Test XI by the ICC for his performances in 2015.
Younis Khan has had an amazingly bright and eventful career. He has been able to break several records and also create several others, which have even given him a lot of fame and recognition. Being the first Pakistani cricketer to score 10,000 or more runs in test cricket. He has an amazing 34 centuries to his name, which is the highest number of centuries by any cricketer in the history of Pakistan's cricket arena.
Despite being a record-creator and record-breaker in the world of cricket, Younis Khan's career was not always bright and fruitful. He had his share of shortcomings, ups, and downs. The struggle that he has been through to be in the place that he is today is something that deserves credit and appreciation.
Even as a retired sportsperson today, Younis Khan is still remembered for the contributions that he made to the field of cricket for Pakistan. He will always be respected for his on-field dedication and passion that took the Pakistani cricket team to great heights during his era.
FAQs
What is the highest test score achieved by Younis Khan?
The highest test score made by Younis Khan is 313.
What is the maximum number of test centuries scored by Younis Khan?
Younis Khan has made a maximum of 34 centuries during his career as a test cricketer, making him the only Pakistani cricketer to set a record.
When did Younis Khan make his international debut in the field of cricket?
Younis Khan made his international debut against Sri Lanka in February 2000. Since then, his journey in the field of international cricket has been an extravagant one.
Did Younis Khan captain the Pakistan cricket team?
Yes, Younis Khan had brief stints as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team. He led the team in both Test and One-Day International (ODI) formats at different times.
What is Younis Khan's batting style?
Younis Khan was a right-handed batsman known for his solid technique and resilience. He was proficient in playing both aggressive strokes and anchoring the innings when required.
