CENTURION, Jan 10: Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan is confident his team will fare better on their South African tour than India, who lost Test series 2-1. The team gave a good account of themselves in the three-day tour match against Rest of South Africa and Younis, who scored 76, said team was in a positive frame of mind going into three-Test series against Proteas starting in Centurion on Thursday.

“It is just as well we started on front foot because we have only a few days before first Test. I am confident we can do better than India, who narrowly lost the series here,” he wrote in a website. “We have a strong and well balanced squad and bowlers in particular are looking good.”

Younis, one of mainstays of Pakistan batting, returned to cricket after death of his brother Farman Ali Khan in a car accident last month.

“It has been a very sad time for me and my family after my brother passed away but I am hoping cricket will help me to get through this difficult time in my life,” Younis wrote.

He said he was trying to keep his mind off personal bereavement by focussing on South African tour. “I am trying to focus on my cricket in South Africa and it will help me take my mind off sadness. It is important I concentrate on cricket as we have World Cup in two months and I have to focus on my game.”—Agencies

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