Younus Khan is a former Pakistani cricketer who is widely considered as one of the greatest batsmen in the country's history. Born on November 29, 1977, in Mardan, Pakistan, Younus grew up in a cricket-loving family and showed an early interest in the sport. He began playing cricket at a young age and worked hard to improve his skills.
Younus made his debut for the Pakistan cricket team in February 2000 in an ODI match against Sri Lanka. He made an immediate impact, scoring a half-century in his debut match. He quickly established himself as a key member of the team and became known for his elegant strokeplay and his ability to play long innings.
Younus' breakthrough performance came in the 2002-03 season when he scored his first Test century against South Africa. He followed that up with another century in the next match and became the first Pakistani batsman to score centuries in consecutive Tests against South Africa. This performance helped establish him as one of the leading batsmen in the world.
Younus continued to excel in the following years and played a crucial role in Pakistan's victory in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 tournament. He was named the Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performances, including a match-winning knock of 70 in the final against Sri Lanka.
In 2010, Younus was appointed as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, replacing Mohammad Yousuf. He led the team to a historic victory in the 2009-10 ICC World Test Championship, where they defeated Australia in a Test series for the first time in 15 years. Under his leadership, Pakistan also won Test series against England and New Zealand.
Younus' career highlights include scoring over 10,000 runs in Test cricket and being the first Pakistani batsman to do so. He also scored 34 Test centuries, which is the most by any Pakistani batsman. He retired from international cricket in 2017 with a record of 10,099 Test runs and 7,249 ODI runs.
Aside from his impressive statistics, Younus was also known for his leadership qualities and his dedication to the sport. He was a humble and hardworking cricketer who always put the team's interests ahead of his own. He was also a mentor to many young cricketers and played an important role in developing the next generation of Pakistani cricketers.
In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Younus has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, which is the second-highest civilian award in Pakistan. He remains a beloved figure in Pakistani cricket and is admired by cricket fans around the world.
In conclusion, Younus Khan is a true legend of Pakistani cricket who made a significant impact on the sport. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest batsmen in the country's history and as a leader who inspired his team to achieve great things.