Dubai Younis Khan, who created history at Dubai International Stadium through centuries in both the innings in the first Test against Australia, said: “I am very happy to have done something for my country. I am a proud Pakistani at the moment.”
Younis became the seventh Pakistan batsman and the first from Pakistan to score centuries in both innings of a Test match against Australia. The others who have got centuries in both innings are Hanif Mohammad (1964), Javed Miandad (1984), Wajahatullah Wasti (1999), Yasir Hameed (2003), Inzamam-ul Haq (2005) and Mohammad Yousuf (2006). It is after 40 years that a batsman has scored centuries in both innings against Australia after Glenn Turner of New Zealand did it in 1974.
Younis, who has moved past Inzamam (25 hundreds) as the highest Test century maker for his country, said: “I had never thought that I will cross Javed Miandad, the great Yousuf or Inzamam because I have had too many 70s and 80s in my career. However, when I reached 20 hundreds then I thought that if I keep myself fit for the next two three years, then I can make 30 to 32 hundreds.
Younis also revealed that Pakistan’s defeats in the One-day series and Twenty20 matches made him more determined. “When I was not in the One-day international squad, there was a lot of talk about myself that whether I will be available for Tests. When we lost the Twenty20 and then the ODIs my friends and family motivated me to do something for the team. At one point, I was thinking not to go for the Test matches but Australia being a top ranking team I did not feel like leaving the team. My friends and family reminded me that I have no hundred against Australia and now, I have two in two innings. It all comes when you think positively.”
Did he ever contemplate of retiring from the game? “If I had decided to retire, then it would have been taking the easier option. I have never chosen easier options in my life. In 2004, we did not have a number three batsman and Bob Woolmer asked me to bat at number three. He told me to face Glenn McGrath, (Jason) Gillespie and Shane Warne I took up the challenge and not ran away. Here too everyone backed me, including media and my friends and family. They told me you can get a hundred and beat Inzi (Inzamam’s) record and I did it.”
Ahmad Shehzad revealed that he was motivated to hit the century due to Younis’ advice. “On my way back to hotel yesterday (Friday) when I was unbeaten on 22, Younis told me that it took him 12 years to hit a century against Australia so do not waste a chance. I took his advice and did it.”
Shehzad then revealed how important it was to have Younis as batting partner. “A hundred is always special for a player no matter where are you playing, you playing abroad or at home. Of course a century against Australia is very special for me. The way I got out in the first innings I was disappointed. I am lucky to have Younis next door to me so I was talking to him how should I go about it. What should be the approach, he is a gentleman and has always ready to help the youngsters, he told me few things and to score here.”
Shehzad admitted that he has learned a lot from Younis. “He (Younis) was the captain when I made my ODI debut. I share dressing room with him and the way he has been scoring and performing and carrying himself for the last 12 to 14 years has been amazing. It is not just scoring hundreds but the discipline of your life. Being a youngster, I am learning a lot from him and I pray for him that he keeps going and score more runs.”
