Abu Dhabi: What Virendra Sehwag, one of India’s finest opening batsman couldn’t manage, Pakistan’s veteran Younis Khan did – choose his swansong.
Sehwag, who played 104 Tests, 251 ODIs and 19 T20Is, scoring over 17,000 international runs, soon after announcing his retirement last month had said that the disappointment of not playing a ‘farewell match’ would always linger in his mind.
However, Younis now has no such regrets and he accepted that he was ‘pushing the selectors and everyone in Pakistan’ to get that one chance to come back and play in ODIs.
“Seven months have passed since the World Cup and since then, every day, I have been fighting with myself. My wish was that a player like me should retire from cricket on the own terms. I got that opportunity and I cashed it and today I’m leaving on my own terms,” said Younis, who managed just nine in his final ODI match which Pakistan went on to win against England to take 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, also criticised the decision just one match into his recall to the team.
“Some people can feel it is a negative move but I feel it is the right one. In my 15-year career, I must have played ODI cricket for 13 years and all I wanted was to get one chance again. I’m very satisfied with my ODI career record. If I was not I would not have retired. I have always played for the team. I’m happy that I’m leaving when Pakistan has won a match against a team like England,” said Younis, who figured in 265 ODIs from a career that began against Sri Lanka at Karachi in March 2000 and accumulated 7249 runs at average of 31.24 including seven centuries and 48 fifties.
Mohammad Hafeez, who carried his fine run of form from the Tests into the ODI and went to score a match-winning unbeaten ton, revealed that he too was ‘shocked’ when he learnt about Younis’ retirement plans but then the entire team decided to make the moment memorable to mark the legacy he was leaving behind.
“We were all very pumped up and we all decided that we have to win this match as a parting gift for Younis bhai. We bowled and batted really fantastic. I’m happy that I have been able to contribute to the team and that also in a winning cause,” said Hafeez, also hailing the maturity shown by Babar Azam, who scored an unbeaten 62 under pressure and was involved in unbroken 106-run partnership with him.
“My partnership with Shoaib Malek was crucial but the way Babar Azam came and showed his talent was simply amazing. Under pressure, he came and delivered for Pakistan. I also got a lot of confidence watching him perform as a youngster and got a lot of energy,” said Hafeez, who asserted that there has been a change in the mindset of the players for the ODIs.
“We have changed our mindset from the Sri Lanka tour itself and decided we will be play aggressive and attacking cricket. We had decided that even if we lose one, two or three wickets we will not change our mindset. In Sri Lanka also, we were under pressure and here too we lost quick wickets with the ball seaming and swinging around early in both innings but we kept going,” said Hafeez, adding that,he was enjoying his own game and a couple of new things that he tried were working in his favour.
For England skipper Eoin Morgan, there are serious batting worries ahead of the second ODI on Friday. Apart from him and James Taylor, the remaining batsmen failed to deliver, especially their top order.
“We were looking at a minimum of 250 but getting there obviously wasn’t easy on this type of wicket. We have to reassess that quickly. Probably after 20 overs, the ball started to hold up and grip more than it did in the previous few overs,” revealed Morgan, whose only plus in the match was the way Reece Topley bowled and did the damage upfront to finish with 3 for 26 from his nine overs.
“Topley is a big asset for long-term, he is certainly somebody that we are looking to nurture, particularly with his white ball skills and he is very good for a 21-year-old,” said Morgan.
