Mohammad Yousuf: the unsung hero of Pakistan cricket
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricket team has always been known for having world class bowlers. Batting has never been Pakistan’s stronghold but every now and then a player emerges who carries the burden of the whole team on
his shoulders and certainly Mohammad Yousuf is one of them.
Yousaf, the 37-year-old cricketer from Lahore, is one of the most underrated batsmen in Pakistan’s history. Former cricketers, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Inzamam-ul-Haq-c64383,
the right-handed batsman who has score most runs in ODI for the Men in Green, are wildly regarded as the best batsmen Pakistan has ever produced.
However, when we compare the stats of the three batters it is quite obvious that Yousaf is not that far behind.
Miandad, in his career, that nearly lasted 21 years, played 124 Tests for Pakistan in which the legendary batsman scored 8832 runs at an astonishing average of 52.57. The right-handed middle-order batsman
also featured in 233 ODI matches galloping 7381 runs at an average of 41.70 with eight centuries and 50 fifties.
Inzamam, on the other hand, represented Pakistan in 120 Test matches slashing 8830 runs with an average just below 50. The sturdy batter holds 378 ODI caps for the Green Shirts nabbing 11739 runs at 39.52
runs per match.
The 37-year-old, who was known as Yousaf Youhana before he converted to Islam, has belted 7530 Test runs at 52.29 runs per innings; however, he has played fewer games. The aging batsman, who is best known
for his delicate wrist work, also has 9720 ODI runs to his name and his tally of ODI centuries for Pakistan, 15, is second only to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Anwar-c87864 (20).
Yousaf, who is the unsung hero of Pakistan cricket, holds the record for scoring the most runs in a calendar year. In 2006, the batter was at the peak of his game when he slashed 1788 runs and maintained
an average of 99.33. The nine centuries that he scored in 2006 were also the most number of tons by a batsman during the 12-months period.
Yousaf has not been on the radar of Pakistan’s national side for almost a year and a half. The 37-year-old, who was snubbed from the Green Shirts' roster after the ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in 2010,
has been away from any form of professional cricket for the past nine months.
However, the batter seems to have returned and now wants another stint with the Men in Green. Yousaf in a recent interview has made his intentions clear.
The right-hander said, “I’ve returned to playing cricket. I believe I can play for my country again and continue doing so for a few years. I am not looking at shortcuts to gain an entry in the team. I’m
concentrating on continuing the hard work that I’ve put in and play at any level till I regain my place in the playing-eleven.”
He further said, “I never lost my passion for cricket. I don't want to live in past, people learn from mistakes. I have always tried to do my best, but sometimes things go wrong. I can't change the past,
but I can only hope to revive my career.”
If Yousaf dons the Green once again, he will without any doubt bring stability in the fragile batting line-up of Pakistan. However, it is his fitness and ability to last the whole match that is a big concern,
while his sluggishness in the field is also a big question mark.
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