Younis returns to ODI squad

The middle-order batsman was recalled to Pakistan's national ODI squad for the first time this year after having last played in the World Cup in early March in Australia and New Zealand.

Published : Nov 05, 2015 21:28 IST , Karachi

Since March 2013, Younis has played just 11 ODIs.
Since March 2013, Younis has played just 11 ODIs.
lightbox-info

Since March 2013, Younis has played just 11 ODIs.

Pakistan’s senior batsman Younis Khan finally made a comeback to the national one-day squad on Thursday for this month’s One-Day International (ODI) series against England in the UAE. Younis was recalled to the national ODI squad for the first time this year after having last played in the World Cup in early March in Australia and New Zealand.

“We have included Younis in the one-day squad to add more stability to the middle order keeping in mind our future assignments,” chief selector Haroon Rasheed told the media. “It is now up to Younis to prove his credentials in one-day cricket once again,” the former Test batsman said.

The chief selector had to travel to Sharjah to meet with the Pakistan team head coach Waqar Younis and ODI captain Azhar Ali and convince them that Younis should get another shot at this format. Speculation was rife that Waqar in particular is not in favour of including Younis and banking on the younger players.

Since March 2013, Younis has played just 11 ODIs as the selectors have shown little faith in his abilities to convert his test form into the 50-overs format. Younis, 37, has constantly said he wants to play ODI cricket but there is a marked difference between his Test and ODI records which has kept him out of the one-day team.

While in Tests he averages 54.31 and has scored 9071 runs in 103 games with 31 hundreds, in ODIs he averages 31.34 in 264 matches with seven hundreds. The selectors included several youngsters in the ODI squad bring in uncapped left-arm spinner and allrounder Zafar Gohar and retaining allrounders Bilal Asif, Aamir Yameen and Anwar Ali as well.

Inform allrounder Emad Wasim has been ruled out of the ODI series because of a finger injury but Haroon Rasheed said he could be fit or the T20 series.

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Muhammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Anwar Ali, Aamir Yameen, Yasir Shah, Zafar Gohar, Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Irfan, Rahat Ali and Bilal Asif.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment