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KARACHI: From the triumphant skipper of the World Twenty20 champions in 2009 to a shy fellow who wouldn’t even utter a single word leave alone look anyone in the eye, former Pakistan Test captain Younis Khan must have had a lot to reflect on in the last couple of years.
Today this proud cricketer who thought the Twenty20 format of cricket was not serious enough for a serious player like him finds himself at a loss for words at being dropped from the ODI squad for the West Indies tour.
This was not supposed to be a comment piece but it is turning into one due to the fine batsman’s declining to comment on anything at the inauguration of the Zaheer Ahmed Azm Group Invitation Cricket Tournament at the NBP Cricket Academy here on Saturday.
It is one thing to leave or announce retirement willingly and something else when you are overlooked with the face-saving excuse of being given some rest.
Perhaps that is why the man, following a robotic announcement of good expectations from the event that he had come to open, when asked a simple question, turned a stricken face to his host while mumbling, “I told you I wouldn’t say anything!”
Yes, Younis didn’t even have an answer for something as harmless as a suggestion from a member of the media asking him to start a foundation for the welfare of cricketers here. “No, please. I am not here to speak,” he said gesturing with his hand for the man to kindly leave him alone.
And out of respect for the cricketer the media that came from all over the city and waited for over one hour to get a chance to meet their hero did in fact leave him alone. Let’s hope that we, along with the rest of his fans, don’t forget about him completely.
