Determination and a little guidance from Rahul Dravid worked wonders for the Pakistani vice-captain
ONE of the key factors that led to Pakistan performing creditably in India was the inspirational contribution of Younis Khan. A somewhat debatable choice for the post of the vice-captain, Younis silenced his detractors in the most emphatic manner possible after an uncertain start.
He failed in the opening Test at Mohali with two single-digit scores. And as the team moved to Kolkata, it seemed certain that the guillotine would surely be dropped.
Inzamamul Haq, the Pakistan captain, for one backed his deputy to the hilt. But Younis too made sure that he retained his captain’s full confidence. The VC staged a resounding comeback with an innings of 147 and in the process, retained his VC slot and his place in the team.
“Yeah, I was lucky enough to play in Kolkata,” he conceded in an interview with Dawn Magazine. “I knew from the onset that another poor match could have easily signalled the end of my Test career.”
A shy character who generally avoids the media spotlight, the 27-year-old candidly spoke about the change in fortune that has put him in line to become Pakistan’s 25th Test captain in the opening Test against West Indies.
“How can I forget Kolkata where I played the best innings of my life so far. It was there that everything started to click for me. I was extremely fortunate to bat with Yousuf Youhana during a big partnership,” he recalled with a grin.
“I always wanted to get into the thick of things. That meant taking singles and twos at every possible opportunity. And if you have a willing partner at the other end the task becomes more much easier.
“Luckily, Yousuf is one those guys who is good between the wickets. The other chap with whom I simply love to bat is Shoaib Malik. He is also just brilliant when it comes to sneaking those non-existent runs.”
How about batting with the skipper himself? Younis at first appeared lost for words before regaining his composure. “Batting with Inzy bhai? Always a tough assignment for his partner because one has to get him running! I did it very successfully in Bangalore,” he revealed triumphantly. “But Inzy bhai made it a point to take singles and convert ones into twos which helped us built our marathon partnership.” Bangalore, where Pakistan recorded their maiden Test series victory in India way back in 1987, once again proved to be Indians’ bogey venue as the visitors achieved a series-levelling win. And no one contributed more to the team’s remarkable achievement than Younis who was sublime touch with a magnificent double of 267 and an unbeaten 84.
He could have easily scored a century in each innings but chose to downplay his performance. “I never play for records because the team’s needs are much more important than anything else. I have no regrets at missing out on a triple century in the first innings or a century in the second innings since I was following instructions.”
Barely six months ago, Younis was on the sidelines and was unable to reclaim the Test spot which he had lost after the Multan Test against Bangladesh in September 2003.
Did the long wait was a cause of frustration? “Not really. It was one of those moments where I kept waiting for the chance to get back into the Test groove. The wait, in fact, increased my appetite for success.”
Younis is used to bide his time. After starting his Test career with a second-innings century on debut against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi five years ago, he was overlooked for the home series against England before announcing his comeback with an undefeated 149 against New Zealand after being flown out to reinforce the injury-hit squad. “I am used to such kind of treatment. There again I answered them (the selectors) in the best possible manner.”
Since his comeback in the Karachi Test against Sri Lanka, Younis has churned out runs with a consistency that had previously eluded him. In the last seven Tests since his return, Younis has made three centuries and upped his average into the 40s — considered the benchmark for above-average Test batsmen these days.
The reason for this transformation, as Younis attributes, is Rahul Dravid, the India’s captain-in-the-waiting and one of the modern-day greats. “I sought a meeting with Rahul during the ICC Champions Trophy match at Southampton last September. He was very kind to me and offered some sound advice. Rahul has certainly played a significant role in reviving my career. I shall always remain grateful to this great man.”
Imran Khan, who has for long been advocating for Younis to bat at the No 3 slot, however, remains his idol. “I have idolized Imran bhai from an early age. I used to sit hours and hours in front of the TV set just to have a glimpse of my hero,” he recalls. “The best thing I like about Imran bhai that he played fair and square all through his career.”
Steve Waugh, the former Australian batting and one the game’s legends, also figures prominently in Younis Khan’s life. “What a fantastic player he was. Always played with determination and grit and was one batsman who mostly thrived in a crisis. Without doubt he changed the face of Australian cricket in the last 15 years. And just look at Australia where they stand today. They are champions because Steve believed so.”
Is he nervous about becoming a regular Pakistan captain? “To be honest I have no ambitions as such right now. However, captaining one’s country is a privilege that does not come your way everyday. And because Inzamam bhai is ineligible to play as he would be serving a one-Test ban in the West Indies, I have to ensure we keep up with the good work we launched in India. And that is to win the first Test.”
Pursuing victory with honour
By Akbar Shahbaz
Pakistan has produced some legendary and outstanding cricketers during its illustrious cricketing history. Those cricketers, over the years, have brought laurels for the nation by winning leading tournaments like the World Cup and other prestigious encounters. However, in spite of all the achievements, it is believed that the Pakistani cricket team, having talented cricketers in the side and even the drive to boldly face the best teams of the world, at times, fails to materialize on their hard earned winning positions, in the strategic and deciding moments of the game.
The time when it is vital to keep your cool, the turning point of the match; the decision making time; the time when the expertise of the game is not quite enough; when the battle of the nerves reign; the moments when the best of temperament and application is most required. Whether it’s the tension of being at 99, or the deciding battle in the last over of the match, that’s the time when our cricket team usually failed to handle the pressure. And that is because they lack the finishing touch, the finesse.
In search of that finishing touch and in order to hold the team together single-handedly at crucial moments, lets try the important venue of deriving strength from the psychological, ethical and character-building aspects of the competitions:
On May 25,1999 nearly 50 influential leaders in sports, in USA, issued the Arizona Sports Summit Accord to encourage greater emphasis on the ethical and character-building aspects of athletic competition. The Accord was the result of a conference convened May 12-14, 1999 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
The Arizona Sports Summit Accord reads as follows:
Preamble: At its best, athletic competition can hold intrinsic value for our society. It is a symbol of a great ideal: pursuing victory with honour.
The love of sports is deeply embedded in our national consciousness. The values of millions of participants and spectators are directly and dramatically influenced by the values conveyed by organized sports. Thus, sports are a major social force that shapes the quality and character of the any culture. In the belief that the impact of sports can and should enhanced the character and uplift the ethics of the nation, we seek to establish a framework of principles and a common language of values that can be adopted and practised widely.
It is therefore agreed:
• The essential elements of character building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these “six pillars of character”.
• It is the duty of sports leadership — including coaches, athletic administrators, programme directors and game officials — to promote sportsmanship and foster good character by teaching, enforcing, advocating and modelling these ethical principles.
• To promote sportsmanship and foster the development of good character, sports programmes must be conducted in a manner that enhances the mental, social and moral development of athletes and teachers them positive life skills that will help them become personally successful and socially responsible.
• Participation in athletic programmes is a privilege, not a right. To earn that privilege, athletes must conduct themselves, on and off the field, as positive role modes who exemplify good character.
• Sports programmes should establish standards for participants by adopting codes of conduct for coaches, athletes, parents spectators and the groups that impact the quality of athletic programmes.
• All sports participants must consistently demonstrate and demand scrupulous integrity and observe and enforce the spirit well as the letter of the rules.
• The importance of character, ethics and sportsmanship should be emphasized in all communications relating to the recruitment of athletes, including promotional and descriptive materials.
• While recruiting, educational institutions must specifically determine that the athlete is seriously committed to getting an education has or will develop the academic skills and character to succeed.
• The highest administrative officer of organizations that offer sports programmes must maintain ultimate responsibility for the quality and integrity of those programmes. Such officers must assure that education and character development responsibilities are not compromised to achieve sports performance goals and that the academic, emotional, physical and moral well being of athletes is always placed above desires and pressures to win.
• The faculties of educational institutions must be directly involved in and committed to the academic success of student-athlete sand the character-building goals of the institution.
• The leadership of sports programmes at all levels must ensure that coaches, whether paid or voluntary, are competent to coach. Minimal competence may be attained by training or experience. It includes basic knowledge of: a) the character-building aspects of sports, including techniques and methods of teaching and reinforcing the core values comprising sportsmanship and good character; b) first-aid principles and the physical capacities and limitations of the age group coached; and c) coaching principles and the rules and strategies of the sports.
• Because of the powerful potential of sports as a vehicle for positive personal growth, a broad spectrum of sports experiences should be made available to all of our diverse communities.
• To safeguard the health of athletes and the integrity of the sport, athletic programmes must discourage the use of alcohol and tobacco and demand compliance with all laws and regulations, including those relating to gambling and the use of drugs.
• Though economic relationships between sports programmes and corporate entities are often mutually beneficial, institutions and organizations that offer athletic programmes must safeguard the integrity of their programmes. Commercial relationships should be continually monitored to ensure against inappropriate exploitation of the organization’s name or reputation and undue interference or influence of commercial interests. In addition, sports programmes must be prudent, avoiding undue financial dependency on particular companies or sponsors.
• The profession of coaching is a profession of teaching. In addition to teaching the mental and physical dimensions of their sports, coaches, through words and example, must also strive to build the character of their athletes by teaching them to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring and good citizens.
At the time of beginning of a very exciting tour of India, it was hoped that with its professional abilities and fighting spirit, the team will maintain the sportsman spirit, widely talked about in the game of cricket and also put greater emphasis on the ethical and character building aspects of the competition.
Finally, it should be noted that the Arizona Sports Summit Accord not only focuses the athletes, but it also stresses on the coaches, institutions and organizations to follow the ethical, moral and character building aspects of athletic competition... pursuing victory with honour.
Determination and a little guidance from Rahul Dravid worked wonders for the Pakistani vice-captain
“Luckily, Yousuf is one those guys who is good between the wickets. The other chap with whom I simply love to bat is Shoaib Malik. He is also just brilliant when it comes to sneaking those non-existent runs.”
