Younis Khan should get befitting respect, recognition

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Isn’t it strange that Younis Khan, one of the greatest-ever cricketers to be produced by Pakistan, has yet not been accorded the kind of respect and recognition he deserves for earning so much glories for the country? 

Doesn’t he merit the same degree of admiration for winning the World Cup like the one granted to the other captain for bringing home the trophy? 

Honestly speaking, Younis has not been fairly treated by the powers that be despite his incredible performances. Yes, he was the skipper of the team when Pakistan emerged triumphant in the ICC T20 World Cup in England during the summer of 2009. 

That’s the only time the country has won the T20I title since its inception in 2007, which makes the conquest even more remarkable. 

Please also don’t forget that Younis has scored the highest number of runs as well as centuries for Pakistan in Test cricket. Do we need to be reminded that he is the only player in with five fourth-innings Test centuries which is a world record. 

He scored as many as half a dozen six Test double centuries, which are joint-most for the country with the great Javed Miandad. 

Let us also not lose sight of the fact that he remains the only Pakistani batsman to score centuries against all nine other Test nations. He also holds records for most century partnerships for Pakistan. 

He has fourth-highest conversion rate from 50 to 100 among the batsmen having scored 20 or more centuries. Don’t also overlook the incredible feat of scoring as many as 11 centuries after having turned 35. He became the first Pakistani cricketer with 100 Test catches, also holding the record for most catches by a substitute fielder. 

His record in One-day Internationals is no less impressive despite the fact that he was used as a floater in the batting order during his first 90 matches whereby he was sent into bat at different positions with limited number of balls left to be negotiated. 

Younis was not allowed to bat at a particular position for a long time, which amounted to injustice with his talents. He could have been much more useful for the team if he was not victimized in the early part of his ODI career. Yet, when he got the chance, he proved his critics and detractors absolutely wrong. 

He amassed 7,249 runs in 265 ODIs with seven centuries and 48 half-centuries besides plucking 135 catches. His strike rate of 75.29 was as good as any other leading contemporary batter. 

Needless to say, he was a team man to the core, who never cared for his personal record or individual glory. He was a selfless person in the truest sense of the word. That’s why he sacrificed his wicket on innumerable occasions for the sake of the team, not caring for his batting average or anything like that. 

That’s how he was dismissed in 80s and 90s on quite a few times. He could have scored many more centuries if he thought of himself which he never did. Yet, he was criticized occasionally for not producing the goods, which was grossly unfair. 

Younis has a history of having absorbed the pressures of all kinds. Today, although he never admits, but he must be wondering why he has not been given the importance he so richly deserves. It would be in national interest if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) assigns him the task of picking and grooming raw cricketers, something Rahul Dravid did so successfully for India in the recent past.

Isn't it sad that despite having an illustrious career free from any scandals or controversies, he has yet not been offered a decent job by the PCB whereas those with tainted reputation have been allowed to run the show with their engagement at key positions?

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Pakistan cricket needs to look beyond privileged group of former players

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan have crashed out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 well before the start of the knockout phase of the tournament. Isn’t it shameful and disgraceful to perform so poorly at home? Was there any element of shock or even surprise in their early ouster from yet another major global event? 

For those who are well versed with the dynamics of Pakistan cricket, there was hardly any astonishment in the outcome. As a matter of fact, the kind of squad they had selected for the first-ever ICC tournament being staged in the country after 29 years, you didn’t need to be an expert to comprehend what was in store. 

Entering the mega event with just a solitary specialist spinner, whereas others had assembled hordes of slow bowlers, was nothing short of suicide or stupidity. It was evident that merit had been brutally compromised and quite a few talented players were dropped for inducting those who carried recommendations from influential persons. 

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) succeeded in finding resources for renovating cricket stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, at whatever costs, they probably didn’t get the time to turn their efforts in ensuring the formation of a squad which was competitive in the field to say the least. 

It is nothing new really because, in the recent past, the PCB has been held hostage by a group of former cricketers who continue to call the shots at their own whims. 

For the last 15 to 20 years, the Pakistan cricket administration has revolved around the likes of Wasim Akram, Rameez Raja, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shahid Aslam, Ijaz Ahmed, Aqib Javed, Haroon Rasheed, Mansoor Rana, Intikhab Alam, Iqbal Qasim and a few years. Directly or indirectly, these guys have been running the show in accordance to their own preferences and priorities. 

The heads of the PCB have kept changing, but these former cricketers have had the clout to find their way in the management by hook or by crook. That’s why there is a consistency in intrigues and politicking all along. 

Why don’t the PCB helmsmen turn to people of credibility and proven track record like Aamir Sohail, Jalaluddin, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif and Saeed Anwar? Why don’t we get to see these worthy gentlemen, who served the cause of the game with distinction, in the PCB administration? 

Instead of incorporating cosmetic changes, the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, should immediately look beyond those who have encircled him to fulfill their own agendas. He should sideline the likes of Wahab Riaz, Aqib Javed, Waqar Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq whose controversial policies have hurt the interests of Pakistan cricket. 

Misbah and Waqar were chiefly responsible for orchestrating the conspiracy against Sarfaraz Ahmed, undoubtedly the most successful of all the Pakistani captains in the recent past. They were guilty of indulging in petty politics to remove Sarfaraz from the scene and hand over the leadership of the team to the quartet of Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan. Together, they have destroyed Pakistan cricket. 

Well, the immediate remedy in my opinion is to take Younis Khan the great on board. He is one person who should be entrusted with the task of building youth cricket. 

He has the rare ability to groom and develop the kind of modern-day cricketers who can graduate to the next level. He can easily contribute to Pakistan cricket what Rahul Dravid did to Indian cricket. 

The PCB will be advised to induct only those former cricketers in the set-up who have had clean record in the past and they are not greedy. Handpicking those with dubious character record may not serve purpose even if they enjoyed some success in the field during their playing days.

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Diary of a memorable trip to home city Karachi

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Karachi is the city of my birth and this is the place I have been visiting regularly over the years to meet my near and dear ones, after having relocated in the United States of America (USA), which indeed is my new home. 

Although all my trips of Karachi help me in recapturing golden moments and building fresh memories but the latest one, in November 2024, was probably the most memorable, considering my engagements in various reunions and get-togethers with many of those who were my childhood friends and we had played cricket for decades together. 

Obviously, it’s not easy to describe those feelings in words because such were the emotions while interacting with some guys who were reconnecting after a number of years. 

Time has flown, things have changed but none of us seems to have forgotten those days of struggle in cricket fields where we had devoted all our energies and resources to graduate to the next level. 

One of the features of the recent trip to Karachi, spanning 12 days or so, was the fulfilment of a cherished dream of mine. 

I was approached by Geo Super to do live commentary of the Karachi Premier League (KPL) which was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for five days on a trot. 

Describing the action on cricket field, either as a commentator or an expert, has remain my passion by finally I got the opportunity to showcase my skills in this role. 

Going by the feedback, my colleagues Tauseef Ahmed, a former Test off-spinner, and Yahya Hussain informed me having fared pretty reasonably on my commentary debut.

It was a huge honour for me to have been invited as one of the guests in the presentation party for the award ceremony, which was held at the end of every match at the picturesque Naya Nazimabad Stadium which hosted all the matches of the KPL. 

The legendary batsman, Younis Khan, also a buddy of mine, was one of the functionaries of the KPL. It was very kind of him to have accorded very warm welcome to me on every visit of mine to the Naya Nazimabad Stadium. 

My birthday was also celebrated with considerable fanfare at the ground and Younis Khan was the man to have managed it for me. The love and respect he showered on me and my family is beyond description. 

A dinner meeting was arranged at a five-star hotel by my former Pakistan Customs teammate, Waqar Hussain, which was also attended by Javed Miandad, the greatest batsman of our generation. My elder brother, Anwar-ul-Haq, and Haris Khan, both successful former cricketers of our time, were also present on the occasion. 

Then, I had the pleasure of attending a reception of the Fazlur Rahman Sports Club, organized by its livewire patron, Munir Ali Qadri. This brought together my contemporaries like Nasir Shah, Shaukat Mirza, Munir-ul-Haq, Sagheer Abbas, Tafseer Abbas, Ameeruddin, Shahabuddin, Anwar-ul-Haq and Haris Khan. These were magical moments.

After watching the above activities, you may also incline to agree with me that this was a tour to remember. I have returned to my new home mush refresher and obliged.

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Younis, Sarfaraz face discrimination from PCB once more

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), seemingly as a part of its promotions ahead of the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2023, compiled and released a video, showcasing the high moments in history on the eve of the 76th Independence Day celebrations. Its contents have already resulted in causing lots of resentment and controversies. 

Initially the PCB was slammed for ignoring Imran Khan, the triumphant skipper of the World Cup 1992. Since he is a former Prime Minister besides being one of the greatest-ever all-rounders of the game, with a huge fan following globally, there was uproar and criticism from every nook and corner of the world. 

Omitting the World Cup winning captain on political grounds was indeed shameful and the PCB was forced to edit the video and release a new one which included his images. But a couple of more glaring omissions have not been rectified yet, which is very disappointing for those who love the game the most earnestly. 

How could the history of Pakistan cricket remain complete without mentioning the accomplishments of Younis Khan and Sarfaraz Ahmed? Yet they have been deprived of this honour of featuring in the video highlighting Pakistan’s conquests in the cricket field. Younis, as we all know, is the only other World Cup winning captain of Pakistan.

If Imran was the skipper of the team which brought home the title in 1992 it was Younis, under whose leadership, Pakistan had won the World Twenty20 Championship in 2009. Isn’t it strange that one World Cup winner becomes the Prime Minister of the country and the other one is denied the kind of respect and recognition he deserves?

Younis holds national records for the highest number of Test runs as well as centuries. He won numerous matches for the country. He led the team with distinction. But he was victimized in his playing days and the same trend has continued all along. Since he is brutally honest and straightforward, who always believed in let his bat to do all the talking, he has often been sidelined from limelight. Those in the corridors of power have generally been reluctant to interact with him because he takes pride in calling a spade a spade. 

Sarfaraz has also been meted out step-motherly treatment all along despite having exceptional record both as a player and as a captain of the national team. He had led the country to title victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. Earlier he was also the captain of the Pakistan team which annexed the ICC Youth World Cup. 

Pakistan remained the top ranked team in T20 rankings for two and a half years when Sarfaraz, an enterprising wicketkeeper-batsman, was at the helm of the affairs. He is credited to have blooded and groomed the youngsters like Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Khan Afridi and Fakhar Zaman who have gone on to become world-class performers. 

Both Younis and Sarfaraz have done wonders for the country, Any documentary of Pakistan cricket will be deemed incomplete without their mention. The PCB must re-edit the video to include both of them because they deserve to be there. The heroes are meant to be respected and admired, not humiliated or insulted.

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Nasir Shah becomes first recipient of Global Sports CBF award

Pakistan News & Features Services

Nasir Ali Shah, a former first-class cricketer from Karachi, became the first recipient of the Cricketer Benefit Fund (CBF) award, instituted by the US-based Global Sports Inc. 

He was an opening batsman who played for Karachi, United Bank Limited and Pak PWD. He also captained his teams on many occasions. 

The presentation ceremony was held recently at the Karachi Gymkhana in which Younis Khan, a former Pakistan captain and holder of many Test records, handed over the cheque of PKR five lacs to Nasir Shah on behalf of Global Sports. 

The presence of Younis, a legendary top-order batsman with a number of records under his belt, was a massive source of encouragement to the organizers and promoters of the noble cause, jointly undertaken by a few of former Pakistani cricketers and philanthropists having relocated in USA.

The ceremony was organized through the courtesy of Jalaluddin, a former Test fast bowler and the highest qualified coach of the country, currently visiting his home city. Anwar-ul-Haq, Naeem-ul-Haq, Waqar Hussain and Zafar Ahmed were among the other cricketers present on the occasion. 

Naeem, who played for Karachi, Pak PWD and Pakistan Customs, has been a part and parcel of Global Sports since its inception around 17 years ago. He had specially travelled from Orlando, USA, to be part of the presentation ceremony in Karachi. 

Having been associated with Global Sports as its Vice President, Advisor and Coach, Naeem is acknowledged as the person to have floated the idea of supporting former cricketers back home which led to the formation of the CBF and Nasir Shah was selected as the recipient for the inaugural award. 

In a brief conversation with PNFS, Naeem informed that besides being an outstanding cricket player, Nasir mentored quite a few of his teammates, including him, and he was widely respected for his leadership qualities. 

Naeem also disclosed that the CBF will announce the next beneficiary for 2022 during the Diversity Cup Tournament, scheduled to be held in Detroit, Michigan, next July.

He expressed gratitude to his colleagues and patrons of Global Sports, particularly its Founder President, Shahid Ahmed, and Dr Shaukat Rashid of Ohio, to have launched the initiative which will be their token contribution for recognizing the silent soldiers and unsung heroes of the game.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed deserves to be in Pakistan team

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Isn’t it a pity that Pakistan’s cricket team, currently undertaking a tour of England, doesn’t contain the man who had led them to their greatest glory of recent times just three summers ago?

Yes you got it right. Indeed I am talking about Sarfaraz Ahmed, the dashing wicketkeeper-batsman, who had proved himself a very able captain in all three formats.

The conspirators succeeded in getting him axed from captaincy as well as got him omitted from the team. It was a politically motivated move to sack him after being whitewashed at the hands of Sri Lanka in a home series.

Sarfaraz’s exit from the scene was not unexpected, if one happened to know behind the scene affairs that had been going on for quite some time.

It was politicking of the highest order which finally resulted in his ouster. Don’t forget that Sarfaraz had kept Pakistan as the top ranked team in T20 Internationals for more than two years and yet he was robbed of the T20 captaincy.

He had led Pakistan to come from behind title victory against all odds in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England. Yet his head was chopped for ODI format as well. He was not spared from the Test side either.

It’s an open secret that Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis have had their issues with Sarfraz for a long time, more on non-cricketing basis.

Together they had attempted to victimize during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but Sarfaraz had silenced the captain and the coach, besides his other critics, with terrific performance.

Sarfaraz was made the captain of the Pakistan team on merit and he flourished in the role at the strength of his monumental efforts.

There were lobbies at work to derail him but he was strong enough mentally and emotionally to overcome the in-house challenges as judiciously as those thrown at him by the opponents in the field.

He continued fighting and didn’t let the additional pressures get the better of him. Occasionally he did falter, like most of his teammates, but he always led from the front and played in the interest of the team.

It was really a sad day for Pakistan cricket when he was shown the door on the basis of just one ordinary series, in which he personally had tried his level best to prevent the outcome. It was a wicked move by the forces having compromised on the national interest to satisfy their personal egos. Sarfaraz is still young and raring to go again. He can easily walk into the Pakistan side in all three formats at the strength of his skills and experience.

Muhammad Rizwan, no doubt, is an emerging wicketkeeper-batsman having shown the promise but Sarfaraz stands taller in pedigree and he could prove an asset for the team in the trying English conditions.

The Pakistan think-tank will be better advised to make decisions in the larger national interest rather than at the whims of the people with vested interests. Sarfaraz is due for a comeback. The sooner it’s done, better it will be for the cause of Pakistan cricket.

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Younis Khan has much better record, temperament than his critics

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

So Younis Khan, the most successful Pakistan batsman in Test history, is all set to start second innings of his career. 

Having quit international cricket in 2017, after scoring the highest number of Test runs and centuries for the country, he has now been appointed as the batting coach for the upcoming tour of England. 

Younis Khan will add value to the star-studded Pakistan support staff which also includes the likes of Misbah-ul-Haq (head coach), Waqar Younis (bowling coach) and Mushtaq Ahmed (spin bowling coach). Pakistan will be playing three Tests and as many as T20 Internationals during the tour of England in July and August. 

Like so many others, I also reckon that Younis Khan should have been a part of parcel of the Pakistan cricket soon after his retirement and it has already taken far too long to rope him in. 

He should have been associated with the set-up in one capacity or the other even during these last three years because he has had so much to offer after having enjoyed an incredibly successful batting career at the international level. 

Remember that he was the most consistent Pakistan batsman for a number of years during a period when batting was often letting down the team and he used to be the lone man standing and taking the fight into the opponents’ camp. 

There’s a school of thought which compared him to Rahul Dravid, the mainstay of Indian batting for a long time, and expected the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to utilize Younis Khan’s expertise and services in the identical manner as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had done with their former captain. 

I also firmly believe that Younis possesses the capacity and talents to replicate Dravid in grooming the promising youngsters and turn them into success stories. This is one role Younis would have played much better than any other of his contemporaries in the country. 

Why the think-tank at the PCB took three years to bring Younis back and that too for such a short assignment of a single tour doesn’t reflect too well on their part and it clearly demonstrates that non-cricketing factors also have played a part in it. 

There have been reports that the PCB had contacted him, but not seriously enough, to engage him in the past. He was believed to have been offered a role in revamping the National Cricket Academy (NCA) but the negotiations were unfruitful. 

Now when the PCB has finally succeeded in roping him as a batting coach for the national team, the assignment should not have been just for a single tour. He merited a longer contract, much like others in the coaching staff. It will indeed be a tragedy if Younis is made the scapegoat if the Pakistan team didn’t achieve the desired results on the tour of England. 

Hopefully better sense will prevail and the movers and shakers of the Pakistan cricket will see to it that no such mischief is committed in the larger national interest. 

There has been some talk in the media about the temperament of Younis and a few experts have expressed the opinion that he might not be suited in a coaching role. 

Let me remind all concerned that Younis compiled no less than 30 Test centuries besides accumulating 10,000 runs at the highest level of the game in the toughest of circumstances. Staying miles away from petty politics, he let his bat do the talking all along. He stonewalled the fastest of bowlers with a smile on his face while countering the spin wizards with his nimble footwork. 

Sadly, one of the voices spreading poison against him is none other than Rameez Raja, a former Pakistan opening batsman turned commentator. What he seems to be forgetting though is the fact that Younis was a far more successful batsman at international level who didn’t need any certification of temperament from someone with a mediocre batting record to say the least.

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Younis Khan delighted over appointment as batting coach

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistani’s most prolific batsman Younis Khan, has expressed delight over his appointment as batting coach of the national cricket team for the upcoming tour to England.

“No feeling can be better than the feeling of serving Pakistan again,” the record-breaking former Test, ODI and T20I captain stated in his tweeter message. 

Holding the record of hitting the highest number of Test centuries as well as the most runs for Pakistan, he thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for honouring him with an opportunity to be back in the dressing room as a batting coach. 

Having captained Pakistan to title triumph in the World T20 in England in 2009, he assured that he will make sure that no stone remained unturned to bring the best out of the talented players of Pakistan. 

Born on November 29, 1977, Younis Khan had called it a day after having played 118 Tests in which he scored 10,099 runs at an average of 52.05 which included 34 Test hundreds. 

In ODIs, he scored 7,249 runs in 265 games. He also played 25 T20Is and scored 442 runs at an average of 22.10. He retired from international cricket, at the age of 39, after the series against West Indies in 2017.

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Younis Khan’s punctuality, modesty charms Memon community

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Younis Khan, a former Pakistan captain and the highest run-getter for the country in Test cricket, gladdened the hearts of the participants, guests, dignitaries and organizers of the KMA Sports Gala 2020 during its opening ceremony, in which he was the chief guest, held at the KPT Sports Complex, Karachi, on February 1.

It’s not often that the chief guest, irrespective of his own stature or that of the hosts, arrives right on time but Younis Khan, widely respected for his gentlemanly actions, broke the tradition by reaching the venue of the ceremony at the designated time of 10 am. 

Everyone present on the occasion was pleasantly surprised to watch the batting great enter the KPT Sports Complex in time which allowed the opening ceremony to take place in accordance with the original plan, instead of being forced to alter it because of the delayed arrival of the chief guest.

The colorful opening ceremony of the KMA Sports Gala 2020 was made memorable by the presence of the cricketing heroes of the caliber of Younis Khan, Jalaluddin and Haris Ahmad Khan. 

It seemed to be in the fitness of things that the first-ever sports gala to be organized by the Kutiyana Memon Association (KMA) Education Board was graced by such eminent personalities of the sporting world. 

Jalaluddin, a Test fast bowler, who holds the distinction of recording the first-ever hat-trick in One-day Internationals, is now among the highest qualified cricket coaches of the country.

Both Younis Khan as well as Jalaluddin appeared to be overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the students and teachers of the KMA-run educational institutions which was evidenced by their fabulous display in the opening ceremony. 

The atmosphere at the KPT Sports Complex was nothing short of electric and there were thousands of spectators watching the spectacle at the football ground. 

With more 6,500 students enrolled at the various schools and college of the KMA, it was not surprising to find such big number of people having assembled for the opening ceremony. 

Younis Khan, granted well-deserved hero’s reception upon arrival at the stadium, was full of smiles and praise for the KMA officials to have organized a sports gala in befitting manner. 

“It seems like the Pakistan Day or the Independence Day. It’s wonderful to have such animated surroundings. It’s really lovely to watch the students being so passionate about sports. It augurs well for the country,” Younis Khan declared amidst loud applause. 

Jalaluddin, having trained hundreds of young cricketers at his academies over the years, was also impressed with the initiative and he hoped that it would be beginning of something big for the students of the KMA educational institutions. 

“The organizations like the KMA, who have the infrastructure as well as the resources, can play a vital role in building sports culture in the society. Their students will benefit a great if they could be engaged in competitions and tournaments of sports on a regular basis,” Jalaluddin opined. 

Haris Khan, the tall off-spinner, was appreciative of the decision of the KMA Education Board to launch a sports gala and expressed the hope that it will go on to become an annual event on their calendar in future.

Indeed it's a great beginning as far as the KMA Sports Gala is concerned and judging by the success of its opening ceremony there are strong enough indications of it becoming a regular feature.

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Younis Khan inaugurates 9th PVCA/EBM Inter-School Cricket Tournament

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Younis Khan, a former Pakistan captain and one of the greatest-ever batsmen produced by the country, inaugurated the ninth edition of the PVCA/EBM Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2018 in a colourful ceremony at the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground on October 11. 

Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), and Shahzain Munir, Director, New Product Development, EBM, were prominent among those present on the occasion 

The members and officials of all the participating 32 schools were also in attendance, alongwith the functionaries of the tournament organizing committee, in the inauguration ceremony that lasted about an hour. 

The tournament is being organized by the PVCA and sponsored by English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM), the makers of the famed Peek Freans biscuits. 

The PVCA will be spending over Rupees two and a half million in holding the event whose semifinals and finals, to be telecast live, are planned to be staged at here at the National Stadium. 

A total of 55 matches are scheduled to be played over a period of couple of months. The participating 32 teams have been divided equally in eight groups which includes eight government schools of the metropolis. 

At the end of the league matches, all the eight group champions will be advancing to the knockout stage of the competition, starting with the quarter-finals on November 26. The semifinals on December 14 and 15 will be followed by the final on December 16. 

Each school has been allowed to field one guest player in a match, provided he doesn’t belong to any of the other participating school and hails from Karachi. 

The organizing committee will strictly monitor the age of the players and if any player is found to be overage, the defaulting school will be scratched from the tournament. 

Besides arranging for meals and refreshments during matches, the organizers will also be providing shirts and caps to the participants and it will be mandatory for them to wear the sponsored shirts and caps during their matches. 

Alongwith the Karachi Gymkhana Cricket Ground, the other venues to be used for the tournament will be National Stadium, Naya Nazimabad Stadium, Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Eastern Star Ground and RLCA Ground. 

The PVCA has been organizing the Inter-Schools tournament in Karachi for the ninth time, having launched it with great fanfare in 1999.

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Younis Khan feted by Global Sports

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Younis Khan, one of the greatest-ever batsman to be produced by Pakistan, was feted recently by the Global Sports, a non-profit organization incorporated in the US, for having reached the milestone of 10,000 runs in Test cricket.

Although the batting maestro had retired from international cricket soon after having attained the unique honour in the Caribbean last year, Younis was belatedly honoured by the US-based entity in his hometown, Karachi. 

Naeem-ul-Haq, a former cricketer and now a qualified coach, having relocated to the US, presented the award to Younis on behalf of the Global Sports in a simple but graceful ceremony during his current visit to Karachi. 

“We had originally planned presenting this award to the great Younis Khan in the West Indies when he had earned the coveted distinction of becoming the first Pakistani to get to the magical figure of 10,000 Test runs. Better late than never and we have finally done it,” Naeem remarked on the occasion. 

Naeem, who happens to be one of the ardent supporters of Younis, described him as a living legend.

“For some reason or the other, he didn’t get the recognition he so richly deserved. Throughout his career he silenced his critics with his bat. He was a man of few words but he scored heavily most of the times to prove his critics wrong time and again,” Naeem complimented. 

“The records of Younis speak for themselves. He scored no less than 10,099 runs in 118 Test matches which include as many as 34 centuries. His career batting average of 52.05 was phenomenal. In fact he remains the highest runs-getter as well as the scorer of the highest number of Test centuries for Pakistan. Yet he was subjected to undue pressure which ultimately motivated him to perform even better,” he added. 

Younis, in his brief remarks, thanked the Global Sports for having recognized his efforts by presenting him an award. He lauded the role of the Michigan-based organization in promoting cricket in US and he also expressed the desire to participate in the next year’s Diversity Cup Cricket Tournament.

“Every single effort made for the promotion of cricket in any part of the world has to be commended. It’s very encouraging to find dedicated cricket lovers taking the time out for the game that’s so dear to their heart,” Younis stated. 

Anwar-ul-Haq, who mentored Younis in the early part of his career, was also present in the ceremony. 

“Younis has been a quick learner from the outset. He always took his lessons very seriously and he was never afraid of working hard. That’s why he went from strength to strength in international cricket, overcoming all the challenges with his will power allied with sound technique,” Anwar, who coached Younis at the Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) where both of them were employed together, observed. 

Younis has continued to hold Anwar in high esteem, recalling with affection their companionship at the MCB, an institution which used to take pride in nurturing young talent.

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Changing face of Younis Khan the great

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s former captain and arguably the greatest batsman to be produced by the country, Younis Khan, had a knack of being at the centre of quite a few controversies during the peak of an otherwise illustrious career.

He retired from international earlier this year, after having become the first Pakistani batsman to score 10,000 Test runs.

His tally of 34 Test centuries also remains the highest for the country and they may remain so for a very long time.

His Test record was nothing short of being incredible. He amassed as many as 10,099 runs at a highly impressive average of 52.02 in a career spanning no less than 118 Test matches.

These are truly outstanding numbers and even the all-time great batsmen would have been proud to own such a record.

Younis was seldom accorded the respect or the recognition he richly deserved. Obviously there was the ever-present element of politics in Pakistan cricket which played its due role in him not getting the status he was entitled for.

But another factor which contributed in him being in the news for wrong reasons was his temperament. For some strange reasons he was unable to handle the success which had come his way. He would have been better off having sought some professional advice in this matter but probably nobody was sincere enough to have guided him towards that point.

 
In fact there were a few occasions when his accomplishments were overshadowed by his inability to conduct himself in a befitting manner with the most glaring example being the events following the ICC World T20 Championship 2009 which Pakistan had won under his leadership.

Instead of becoming a folk hero after such an emphatic victory which had allowed Pakistan to lay hands at an ICC trophy for the first time after 17 years, he was found guilty of messing it up with the media corps who was there to report the arrival of the victorious team under his command.

It's not to argue here who was right or wrong or if Younis was provoked by someone at the airport but the fact of the matter is that the triumphant skipper should have talked more about the glories in order to capitalize on the resounding victory instead of engaging into something which could have been avoided.


The mercurial right-handed batsman, whose temperament and technique were exemplary in the cricket field, would have been better off having shouldered arms or ducked instead of having a go at the volley of questions from the journalists present at the airport.

As it turned out, Younis was boycotted by the furious media community and the then Sindh Sports Minister, Dr Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, had to arrange a hurriedly called breakfast meeting at his residence on the Independence Day where the misunderstandings were cleared finally.

Younis, as his awesome Test record testifies, that he remained a champion batsman all along. He was a fantastic captain too. He was a courageous fellow who dared attacking the opponents in the field. Alas he was found wanting, only off the field.

Well Younis, after having quit international cricket, has started looking like a different man now. He has been expressing his thoughts in an articulate manner and he has spoken sense more often than not. We all know that he understands the finer points of the game so well. It was just a matter of time for him to get into the groove.

It's very heartening indeed to find a positive change in his attitude. His willingness to be a part of the social campaigns is winning him more friends now. An exceptionally gifted player like Younis has a lot to offer for the game. As he cares for the society and loves the game so passionately we should be seeing more of him in future.

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VFCC proceed to KL with high hopes of winning Titan’s Cup

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News &  Features Services)

Vital Five Cricket Club (VFCC), having emerged as one of the leading clubs of Karachi in a rather short span of time, will be participating in the inaugural KL Titan’s Cup T20 Champions Trophy Cricket Tournament 2017 being staged in Malaysia.

A 21-member VFCC squad, comprising of 16 cricketers and five officials, will be flying out to Kuala Lumpur in the wee hours of December 22 to compete in the two-week long international event. 

Left-arm spinner Faheem Ahmed will be captaining VFCC with opening batsman Hassan Mahmood to be his deputy. Saad Alam and Ali Imran are the other openers in the squad while Rameez Raja and Akbar Babar are the specialist middle-order batsmen.

Shaharyar Ali Rizvi has been selected as the wicketkeeper batsman while Yasir Hussain, Ansar Mushtaq and Khurram Shahzad are the three all-rounders. Waqar Anwar, Hamza Ansari Ammar Khan and Huzaifi Hussain Alvi are the medium-pacers while Arsalan Hussain and Shaharyar Tanvir are the lead spinners.

Javed Raza Naqvi will be the chef de mission while Waqar Hussain will be the manager with Jalaluddin, Anwar-ul-Haq and Haris Khan to be the head coach, the batting coach and the bowling respectively.

The 12 participating teams in the KL Titan’s Cup T20 Champions Trophy Cricket Tournament have been divided equally in two groups for the preliminary rounds.

VFCC has been placed in the Group B alongwith FRCC, Haji Baba CC, Pak Flag CC, TSCC and Eleven Star CC while the Group A comprises of Active CC, Islamabad Green CC, Moin Khan Academy, Spartans CC and Xchanging Warriors.

At the end of the league matches, the top four teams from both the groups will qualify for the knockout stage of the competition starting with quarter-finals.

Meanwhile VFCC hosted a dinner reception prior to the departure of the squad at the Karachi Gymkhana on December 19 in which Younis Khan, a former Pakistan captain and the leading scorer of runs and centuries for the country in Test cricket, was the chief guest. Prolific Test batsman

Asad Shafiq was also present in the ceremony, largely attended by the officials and members of the club alongwith the Kuala Lumpur bound squad.

Speaking briefly on the occasion Younis Khan didn’t mince words in stating that the promotion of club cricket merited greater attention than the development of academies.

He lauded the efforts of VFCC in promoting cricket from the grassroots level and then fast tracking the development of young cricketers by sending them abroad to compete in international events like the KL Titan’s Cup.

Javed Raza, Chairman, VFCC, shared the aims and objects of the club, expressing his satisfaction over its phenomenal growth from the outset which he attributed to team work and the blessings of the present and former superstars of the country.

“We envision creating a safe, enjoyable and productive environment in which club cricket could excel while our mission is to bring back professional club culture through structuring and by engaging into positive and competitive cricket. We are on course of achieving of achieving of becoming the top cricket club of Karachi,” he disclosed.

Jalaluddin, a former Test cricketer and Head Coach of VFCC, described the club as an offshoot of the Customs Cricket Academy (CCA) and both the institutions were working hand in hand to accomplish the mutual goal of grooming the young talent and preparing them for tougher battles.

He recalled the outfits of VFCC as well as the CCA have had excellent track record abroad, having won tournaments in India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the recent past.

Khalil Masood, an ex-Chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Patron in Chief of VFCC and CCA, complimented Jalaluddin and his team for having delivered consistently during the last couple of decades to raise the bar.

“Our concept of providing coaching, participation in competitions and welfare of youngsters has set an example to follow for others. Our team of coaches has done a commendable job over the years to attain their present status,” he acknowledged.

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Younis Khan could become interim Pakistan Test captain

By Naeem-ul-Haq

With Misbah-ul-Haq uncertain about his future as the Pakistan Test captain, following a dismal run soon after claiming the number one slot in the world last year, there are strong enough indications of change of guard down the road. 

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed, who has been leading the national team in the shortest format of the game (Twenty20 Internationals), has recently also been appointed the skipper for the One-day Internationals, replacing the under-fire Azhar Ali, who prudently chose to resign instead of waiting to be axed. 

With Sarfaraz having shown the aggression as well as the enterprise when captaining the side in the opportunities having come his way so far in the limited overs matches, he remains untested for the longest format of the game.

There are many people who consider him as the natural choice to lead the national team at the Test level whenever Misbah’s tenure is over. Yet there are a few heads who desire Sarfaraz not to be fast-tracked into the role which could jeopardize his own future as well as that of the national team. 

I also reckon that it would be wiser to let Sarfaraz do an apprenticeship before being thrust into the most challenging role of his career. 

If he fails to deliver as a Test captain at this stage this could hurt him in the limited overs formats as well and Pakistan could be struggling to find another capable leader. 

While Misbah’s days, by his own admission, seem numbered in the Test arena, the selectors can turn towards Younis Khan, the greatest-ever batsman produced by Pakistan, to lead the Test team in the period when Sarfaraz could be groomed as his successor. 

Younis as captain and Sarfaraz as vice-captain could become win-win situation for Pakistan in Tests. Both of them are at the peak of their careers and together they can work wonders for the country.

Younis has a proven record both as a batsman as well as a captain. His records are far too impressive to ignore by any stretch of imagination. 

In fact he has been very harshly treated on most occasions despite his accomplishments. It’s never too late and too little to make amends. He is only 39 at the moment. He is among the fittest guys on the park. 

He still has a lot to offer to Pakistan cricket, if allowed to do it. He has the capacity to turn it around. 

With Misbah’s retirement a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ the powers that be have a great option in Younis. Reappointing him as the Test skipper at this point of time will have multiple benefits. 

While the functionaries of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have often been accused of hitting headlines for the wrong reasons, here’s an opening for them to undo some of the sins of the past. 

They will be hailed as the saviours of Pakistan cricket if they decide to bring in Younis as the Test captain and also give him an extended run to let him fire on all cylinders. He still has the energy and the burning desire to make things happen.

He may not be the show boy in the cricket field but he is certainly the most strong-willed person one could think of. He has proved his mettle every single time he has gone on to bat.

He has remained an outstanding fielder all along, having plucked a record number of catches. Wherever standing, he's a source of inspiration for the whole team.

Younis has been subjected to the toughest of pressures at all times. The most brutal treatment was meted out to him by the regime of Ijaz Butt which kept him out of the team for a year and and a half.

He not only has had to bring all his skills into play to negotiate and dominate the most fearsome bowling attacks of the world but he also had to deliver with a sword hanging around him all along. 

It’s indeed shameful that a batsman of his caliber, who has phenomenal Test record against all opponents, has been put under trial more often than not. 

Instead of getting the due recognition from his own country’s administrators he has had to engage in uncalled for battles. Just look at his numbers. He is only 23 runs away from becoming the first Pakistani batsman to reach the milestone of 10,000 Test runs. 

He has already scored 34 Test centuries, which is Pakistan’s highest. He can be proud of his average of 53.06 after 116 Tests in 17 years. What else could have been asked from this man? 

He has all the major Test records for Pakistan under his belt. He has delivered all over the world, having scored heaps of runs in every continent. He has withstood the fastest bowlers of the world fearlessly. He has been equally proficient in taming the best spinners in the planet. 

Yet Younis, a gentleman by nature, has never been accorded the respect he deserved in Pakistan. There has been politicking and all sorts of nuisance to curtail his advancement. Give credit to this man to have weathered the storm with a smile on his face, most of the time. 

Obviously he’s a human being and sometimes he has reacted bitterly to the senseless campaign to malign him. He has always believed in letting his bat to do the talking and he has been successful in silencing his critics by scoring heavily. 

He was the man who brought glories for the country as Pakistan had won the ICC World Twenty20 Championship in 2009 under his captaincy in England. It’s the only time Pakistan has got hold of this crown. 

Despite bringing home the trophy, Younis faced more criticism at home rather than praise which was mind-boggling and unfortunate. The hero was being treated as a villain for reasons that defied logic. 

He has been at the receiving end in the battles between the various groups surrounding the PCB and he has only survived due to the weight of runs he scored. 

Needless to say, Younis has been blessed with nerves of steel. He can handle the bowlers of all kinds and he can also absorb the pressures from different corners. It’s rare to find a man possessing so much mental toughness as him. 

If better sense prevails and the PCB is prepared to look beyond its club, Younis is ready for another stint as the Pakistan captain. With Sarfaraz waiting in the wings, and sharing responsibilities as the vice-captain, Pakistan could become a force to reckon with in Tests once more.

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Consistent policies, eagle-eyed selection vital for Pakistan cricket: Anwar-ul-Haq

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Anwar-ul-Haq, a former opening batsman, has underscored the importance of consistent policies and professional management in order to revive the Pakistan cricket and put it on solid footing. 

“I have no doubt in mind that Pakistan has been blessed with outstanding cricket talent. All we need is the consistent policy at every level to make the most of it and be counted as as one of the top sides of world cricket,” he remarked in a recent chat. 

“I am saying this with total conviction because I have remained a part of the set-up which got hold of the raw talent and groomed them into stars. The colt scheme at the Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) worked wonders and we were able to produce high-quality cricketers from the bunch of youngsters whom we had spotted from the grassroots level,” Anwar-ul-Haq, who became the coach of the bank after quitting first-class cricket, recalled. 

“Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Asim Kamal, Atiq-uz-Zaman, Mohammad Zahid, Shahid Nazir and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, all of whom have played for Pakistan, were the proud products of MCB Colts. They possessed enormous talent but we provided them the platform and the opportunity to unfold their skills and move up the ladder,” he added. 

“There’s a long list of successful first-class players who began the journey with us. We were able to do it because of our consistent policies. Our bank’s President, Hussain Lawai, was a great supporter of inducting young blood. Our sports department’s chief, Mohammad Iqbal, also shared the same philosophy and we were able to execute the plans to perfection with the blessings of our management,” Anwar-ul-Haq, who scored 13 centuries in 108 first-class matches while scoring 5,854 runs, stated. 

“The Pakistan cricket also needs to adopt similar kind of policies for long-term benefit. Talented youngsters, if groomed and taken care of nicely, could prove to be assets. We need eagle-eyed selectors who can continue backing the players who have the spark and the guts to succeed at the higher level,” he suggested. 

“The regional or the national selectors can only be encouraged to do so if they have the backing of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). That’s where the issue of consistent policies comes up. The Board should look at the larger picture and merit should never be compromised. Otherwise the desired results might not be achieved,” Anwar-ul-Haq, who played against the visiting Australian and Indian teams in the 1980s, cautioned. 

“Once the induction of the youngsters starts taking place there were be a larger pool of cricketers and there will be more flexibility in selecting different outfits for different formats. We can also have T20 specialists or Test specialists as some other countries do have at the moment,” he pointed out. 

“In modern cricket, professional approach holds the key. The coaches need to be on their toes all the time. Gone are the days of the laidback thinkers or doers. Now we need proactive personnel to do the business. Cricket is played differently now but Pakistan has the talent to compete. It’s just a matter of better management in order to extract the best of the boys,” he concluded.

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Falconhouse, Kamran Public registers wins in HBL Inter-Schools cricket

Pakistan News & Features Services

Falconhouse Grammar School and Kamran Public School registered victories over their respective rivals in the Group C league matches of the HBL Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament 2014 being held in Karachi. 

Falconhouse Grammar School defeated Azeem Academy by three wickets at the TMC Ground while Kamran Public School began their campaign with 78-run victory over Aga Khan Higher Secondary School at the Hussain Lawai Naya Nazimabad Stadium. 

Leg-spinner Umairuddin Fakhri (4-39) and medium-pacer Waqas Farid (3-22) sent Azeem Academy crashing to 157 all out in 33.1 overs with Ibrahim Khan striking one six and three fours in his enterprising 47 off as many balls. 

Opener Abdullah smashed five boundaries in his 37 off 35 balls to provide Falconhouse Grammar School a bright start. Medium-pacers Usman Zain (3-53) and Hammad Jahangir (2-27) alongwith off-spinner Ibrahim Khan (2-20) pulled it back but Zain Haider’s solid 29 off 49 balls helped the batting side reach the target with 11.4 overs to spare. 

In the other match, half centuries from opener Ubaidullah Khan (79 off 102 balls) and Tariq Bakht (56 off 76 balls) allowed Kamran Public School to post a formidable total of 231 for four in the allotted 40 overs with off-spinner Saad Aslam (2-53) being the most successful bowler in the innings. 

Aga Khan Higher Secondary School was bowled out for 153 in 32.3 overs despite Hasan Ashraf’s 50 off 75 balls. The innings was wrecked by off-spinner Mohammad Bin Junaid(5-22) while leg-spinner Mohammad Akif (2-10) and medium-pacer Hammad Mujeeb (2-23) also bowled effectively. 

The tournament is being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) and a total of 32 teams, which include a couple of outfits selected by HBL on the basis of open trials, are taking part in it.

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