DUBAI: Veteran Pakistan batsman Younis Khan yesterday expressed his delight at being recalled to the one-day team which raised hopes of a final campaign in next year’s World Cup being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The 37-year-old was recalled to the one-day squad, as well as the 30-man World Cup preliminary squad, after scoring four scintillating centuries in the Test series against both Australia and New Zealand since October. Younis hoped he would justify his recall in the five-match one-day series against New Zealand starting in Dubai today.
“I am a happy man to be back,” said Younis, who played just one limited over game in August this year after a 17-month hiatus due to lack of form.
“I hope I do well in this series and then the World Cup, it is very important,” said Younis, who has not scored a one-day hundred for six years. Younis hoped Pakistan would defeat New Zealand in the the one-day trophy after both the preceding Tests and Twenty20 series finished all square at 1-1.
“We don’t want to share this one-dayers. I hope Pakistan will do well in the one-dayers. We have fantastic players in one-dayers. Everyone saw what happened in the T20s. In 50-over cricket, we have some fantastic players, who I think will perform well for Pakistan,” said Younis. AFP
