LAHORE: Experienced middle-order batsman Younis Khan said on Thursday that Pakistan stood equal chances of winning the World Cup. He also categorically rejected speculations about his retirement after the World Cup besides expressing his willingness to bat at No. 3 in the upcoming showpiece.

“One cannot say for sure that Aussies would win the World Cup for they are co-hosting the event. In fact, the most important thing is that teams playing with unity would have bright chances in the upcoming global event,” claimed the former captain while talking to media at the end of the third day’s training session of the ongoing camp here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Talking about his batting position in the upcoming February-March World Cup, Younis said he was ready to push himself up the order to play at No. 3 while stating that he had no issue with changing his batting order.“I am ready to play at No.3 which is more comfortable to me,” said the middle order batsman, adding: “Former coach Bob Wool­mer tested me at No.3 for the first time against England in 2005.

“Though we could not win the game, I played a good knock.”

“My game has changed after playing at No.3 and I have no reason that I could not perform at this position,” the veteran batsman remar­ked, adding: “I wish to perform like what Inzamam-ul-Haq did in 1992 besides, of course, emulating the feats of the-then captain Imran Khan and Javed Maindad.”

“We just have to play as a team and if everyone remains focused on performance then Pakistan will have equal chance, like Australia and South Africa or any other team, of winning the World Cup,” said the 37-year old whose recent brilliant performance in Tests against Australia and New Zealand helped him regain his place in the ODI side.

When asked how he would make his last World Cup a memorable one, a smiling Younis swiftly inquired as to who said it was his last World Cup.

“I have made no announcement about my retirement as yet. I will continue playing cricket until I am fit and crave for cricket,” said the former captain who stated that he would share any such news with the media. “Whenever I will take any decision about my retirement I will invite all the media.”

To a question, the veteran of 259 ODIs and 96 Tests admitted that batting conditions in Australia and New Zealand won’t be conducive for the sub-continent batsmen who are familiar with flat tracks while bouncy tracks are expected in the upcoming World Cup.

“Yes, English and South African batsmen besides those of the host nations have an edge as they are used to playing on bouncy pitches but one day cricket has changed over the years and we must have strong belief in our abilities as many Pakistani batsmen performed in Australia and New Zealand in the past,” he reckoned.

“As the shorter version of the game has changed particularly in the wake of introduction of new rules related to field restriction, batsmen have all good opportunities to score runs, and we have to utilise these opportunities,” said the middle-order batsman who said he had just set himself a simple target which is to win the World Cup to make fans cheerful.

Younis also openly admitted that his ODI performance in Australia was not impressive.

“Everyone said before the series against Australia in the UAE that I was yet to score any century against Australia. However, I hit three centuries including a double century against Australia in the two-Test series. So, history can be changed and I will try to change it while playing in Australia,” he contended.

The veteran batsman also wished to score match-winning centuries against major teams including India. “I wish to score centuries which help Pakistan win matches, for I don’t value those big innings which don’t complement team performance,” said Younis who also vowed Pakistan would beat India this time to break the trend of losing to India in the World Cup.

Talking about captain Misbah-Ul-Haq retirement decision, Younis said he felt proud of being associated with team-members like Misbah and Shahid Afridi who has also announced that he would quit ODIs after the World Cup.

“I am proud of playing along with great players like Misbah and Afridi. The way the duo has served the country is noteworthy.”

“Misbah has proved his mettle as a captain during the last five years, for when he took the charge in 2010 the situation was quite precarious,” Younis said while paying rich tribute to retiring Misbah.

He, however, advised critics not to take Misbah’s retirement decision as good or bad because it was just the right of an individual player to decide whatever he deemed good for himself.

“A cricketer knows better about his fitness level, his form and other circumstances under which he takes such decision,” Younis maintained while stating: “We should not create controversies over anyone’s personal decisions.”

To yet another question he said he had always been very ecstatic whenever he played along with youngsters like Ahmad Shahzad, Umer Akmal and Haris Sohail because he said they were Pakistan’s future. “Youngsters will play better cricket than us in future as we have to leave cricket to them.”

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2015

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