KARACHI: Former captain and brilliant middle-order batsman Younis Khan on Sunday said though his journey in cricket has been a roller coaster ride, he always fought his way out of difficult times by remaining positive and by sticking to basics of the game.

Speaking at an exclusive, candid session at the T2F organised in his honour by the British Alumni Association Pakistan here on Sunday, Younis said while he has faced numerous ups and downs in his career including bad patches with the bat, captaincy furore, unceremonious ouster from team, troubles with fellow players and differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), he invariably emerged winner due to his faith in the Almighty and his positive approach towards life and cricket.

“Recently, when I was dropped for the Australia ODI series in the UAE, though I was hurt but I utilised the opportunity to spend quality time with my family while never losing hope of making a comeback,” said 37-year-old Younis.

Looking fit as a fiddle in a well-tailored mustard suit, Younis surprised everyone with his commitment and punctuality by reaching on the hour at the T2F despite having arrived in the city just a day before following the hectic ODI series against New Zealand in the UAE.

Reminiscing the early days, Younis said he was inspired by legendary players such as Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and others and took up the game with a determination to excel in it.

He recalled how he started his cricket in Mardan and Peshawar but was soon selected to play for the Karachi U-19 side.

“However, I was compelled to go back to Peshawar after a year as it had become difficult to consistently get a chance in the Karachi side,” recalled Younis. “In Peshawar, I joined the Habib Bank side and soon made my debut for Pakistan.”

It is, indeed an irony that a player of Younis’ calibre and ability was not done justice to by the Karachi cricket officials back then, but he went on to become the most successful Pakistan batsman with 28 Test hundreds to his name in 96 games with a fantastic average of 53.37.

This is a glaring example of the flawed system of the game prevalent in the country that must have deprived scores of Younis Khans of their due status and success.

Speaking about his match-winning double hundred against India in 2005 at Bangalore, Younis said he was under tremendous pressure to perform well since Pakistan had lost the previous Test in Kolkata.

“I was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the second innings of that Test and that dismissal pricked my conscience,” recalled Younis. “Our manager’s harsh words about me in the team meeting motivated me to do well and prove him wrong which I duly did by scoring double hundred in the Bangalore Test which Pakistan handsomely won.”

The affable right-handed batsman termed Pakistan’s fabulous 2009 World Twenty20 win in England as the high point of his career.

“I can never forget that tournament,” recounted Younis, his eyes lighting up with thoughts of that memorable win. “I had always dreamt of emulating Imran Khan — one of my all time favourites — and that was the big moment for me to achieve that. Though we had some tough games to counter in that World T20, I somehow was so sure of our victory that the night before the semi-final , I walked upto then PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and said ‘won’t you congratulate us sir?’.

“Astounded at my gesture, Ijaz said ‘what was the occasion? Our World Cup win sir’, I replied and he smiled and said there are still two games to go, so I should wait until after the final to get his response.”

Younis surely realised his dream as Pakistan beat a formidable Sri Lanka in the final to lift the coveted World T20 trophy.

And he is once again excited and confident about being part of another historic occasion next year when Pakistan compete in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“I am looking forward to this World Cup which will surely be my last. And Inshallah if we win it, I will be a proud Pakistani and will be happy to leave the game while still on top,” Younis stated.

In the end, the president of the British Alumni Association Pakistan, Sumbul Muneer presented a bouquet to Younis and thanked him for taking out precious time for the session.

During the well-attended session, Younis was flanked by renowned cricket writer Qamar Ahmed who showered praise on the player for his marvellous batting feats, especially his monumental triple hundred against Sri Lanka in Karachi, and his three hundreds against the mighty Australians in the UAE recently, besides maintaining a controversy-free image throughout.

Also present on the stage with Younis was his former U-19 colleague and noted expert Fawad Mustafa who is also an Executive Committee member of the British Alumni Association.

Talented sports journalist Emmad Hameed was the moderator and conducted the event in a flawless manner. The session was also attended, among others, by a number of cricket and media personalities.

Published in Dawn, December 22th, 2014