KARACHI, Dec 2: Prolific Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has found spiritual strength from his faith, which helped him achieve commendable batting feats against the West Indies, former great Imran Khan said on Saturday.
“Yousuf's feat is commendable and all Pakistan is proud of his world record achievements,” said Imran of Yousuf, who scored 665 runs in three Tests to help Pakistan beat the West Indies 2-0.
The 32-year-old right-handed batsman hit a century in each innings to guide Pakistan to a 199-run victory against Brian Lara's team in the third and final Test, which finished here on Friday.
Yousuf accumulated 1,788 runs in 11 Tests – the new world record for most runs in a calendar year – beating the previous record of 1,710 runs held by the West Indies great Viv Richards set in 1976.
“It is not just the amount of runs and records, it's the elegance and the class of his batting which stands him out and helped him achieve those records,” said Imran.
Imran, who joined politics in the mid-1990s by forming his own party, said Yousuf's faith had given him strength.“Those who talk about a balance in religion and cricket should realise that the composure, the focus, the discipline and the calm way he negotiated crisis show that his faith has given him spiritual strength,” said Imran.
“His faith has suddenly raised his game to different level and I think he is batting at the peak of his career,” said Imran, who played 82 Tests for Pakistan and led the country to its only World Cup victory in 1992 in Australia.“Alongside Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Yousuf's form will be crucial, and these three hold the key for Pakistan's batting performance in the World Cup next year,” he added.
Yousuf, formerly known as Yousuf Youhana, converted to Islam from Christianity last year – a move widely covered in the world's media.
Since then the Lahore-born batsman has been on top scoring form, averaging nearly 92 runs per innings in the 14 Tests since his conversion, up from an average of 48 in 59 Tests before, and has attributed his achievements to Allah's will.
“It is my firm belief that whatever you get, runs or any other thing, it comes because of Allah's will,” Yousuf said on Friday.
He also equalled legendary Australian great Don Bradman's record of scoring six centuries in successive Tests – although it took him only five matches compared with Bradman's six.
Yousuf's nine hundreds in a calendar year is also a new world record which was previously held jointly by Richards and Sri Lankan batsman Aravinda de Silva.—AFP
