July 23, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

HOUSTON, July 22: Pakistan’s premier batsman Yousuf Youhana said Sunday that he wanted to serve the country with honor and dignity and looking forward to emulate the feats of Javed Miandad.

“Miandad had great influence on my career as a coach and great player and I wish to achieve the way he served the country,” 27-year-old Youhana told reporters.

“Miandad was a great help in removing the deficencies in my batting technique during his tenure as a coach,” he said.

He also lauded the support of Rashid Latif.

Lahore-born batsman Yousuf Youhana said Miandad advised him how to build the innings and stay at the crease and his suggestions paid dividends. “Miandad really helped me a lot in raising my game.”

Youhana, who had played 39 Test and 106 One-day Internationals for Pakistan said in the absence of experienced Saeed Anwar, he with Inzmam-ul-Haq were facing brunt of batting burden and team was heavily relying on them which keeps them under immense pressure.

He, however, said with the passage of time he was feeling matured and comfortable and looking ahead to perform better for the country.

He said it was too early to predict about the next year’s World Cup in South Africa and he could only think of the next series and than about the future.

Youhana said Pakistan bowling was doing better in recent months than batting. He said in the presence of speed merchant Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Abdur Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq, Pakistan got a formidable attack.—APP