Temperamental Younis desires taking Pakistan to top

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

The skipper of the Pakistan cricket team, Younis Khan, is a man of many moods. When he’s feeling down he can go to any limit in offending others. He presents a different look altogether when he’s in a positive frame of mind.

So you can never be sure what to expect next from him. His behaviour is more dependent on his mood or state of mind than on anything else. He has been found guilty of losing his cool far too quickly and his temperament has never made him popular in the media who prefer covering persons who are more stable and consistent temperamentally.

Younis, however, looked very happy and relaxed during the luncheon party hosted by the Customs Cricket Academy on behalf of the Islamic Relief at the Karachi Gymkhana on October 26.

Flanked by vice captain Shahid Afridi and former captain Rashid Latif, Younis appeared cool, calm and composed sitting at the stage. He delivered a convincing speech on the occasion in which touched about the subject of serving the humanity. He recalled his own experiences when he traveled to the disaster-hit areas of the country.

The hosts had urged the media to restrict themselves to community service and other activities of Islamic Relief and not to discuss cricket during the question-answer session that followed speeches by the Pakistan captains.

Once the proceedings of the Islamic Relief’s launch of Malakand Rehabilitation Programme were over the waiting media turned their attention and cameras towards the cricket stars and obviously there was no restriction of the subject to be discussed then.

Younis was surrounded by the media corps and the beaming Pakistan skipper was in no hurry to leave them. He took his time and answered every query rather convincingly. His selection of words reflected his peace of mind.

Younis was so cheerful that he even obliged the workers of the Karachi Gymkhana who had lined up to be photographed with him. It was one of the rare days when he went down himself to shake hands with people whom he recognized.

Not surprisingly his media briefing was being covered live by quite a few television channels and the viewers must have felt gladdened by his positive remarks looking into the future.

Younis did not waste the opportunity of acknowledging the overwhelming public support he had received when subjected to harsh criticism by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports. It was his first public appearance after having taken back the resignation and resumed duties as national skipper.

He stated that he felt more confident now after having taken back his resignation and he was prepared to take on more responsibility to fulfill his ultimate ambition of making Pakistan the top ranked in Tests as well as One-day Internationals.

“I am looking forward to the upcoming engagements with renewed confidence. It’s my wish that we could overcome every opponent and win ever series and tournament that we play in. My ultimate desire is to take Pakistan to the top of the rankings in all forms of the game during my own tenure as captain,” Younis wished.

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