CRICKETER Younis Khan has kept a low profile ever since he made his international debut for Pakistan in 2000. He has neither been hailed as a prodigy, nor seen as a naturally gifted player such as Javed Miandad or Zaheer Abbas. But there’s everything high-profile about what Younis has achieved in his magnificent career, not least the 10,000-run mark as he played the West Indies on Sunday — a feat none of his illustrious predecessors in the country could accomplish. A shy, affable man off the field, Younis has dealt with international bowlers in the strongest manner possible on the ground. His 34 hundreds, also the highest for the country in Test matches, is a testament to his prolific form, as are his six double hundreds that include a monumental 313 against Sri Lanka in Karachi. However, it is not only success that has defined his experience. In fact, to grasp why Younis has surged ahead, he must be assessed on the basis of the hurdles he has encountered. Right from his migration days to a turbulent Karachi in 1998 to take up the game, to his unceremonious ouster from captaincy in 2009 after winning the World T20 title in England, and from the controversial ODI exit two years back to his frequent bust-ups with the obdurate authorities, Younis has emerged as a resilient, creative batsman.

Following in the footsteps of his able skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis has now decided to retire after the series against the West Indies. The two stalwarts leaving the game together is nothing short of a catastrophe for Pakistan cricket. And yet, they have taken a wise personal decision by quitting while still in demand; it is befitting of the reputation and respect they have earned. Despite the accolades coming his way, Younis has stayed away from showmanship, rarely mingling with the media or talking about his colleagues. Post-retirement, however, he could still top the charts with a tell-all autobiography for his fans to learn what really went through his head all these years.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2017