Pakistan are scheduled to play England in a series of four Tests, five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and a solitary Twenty20 international. The first Test is due to start at Lord's in London on July 14.
Younis reckons that Pakistan's familiarity will come handy against the potent new-ball pair of England, who have together scalped a combined total of 799 Test wickets from 210 matches. "No doubt about Anderson and Broad -- they are the top bowlers these days. But we play regularly against Broad, Finn and Anderson," Younis told AFP on the sidelines of a dinner organised by Britain's High Commissioner in Lahore on Thursday (June 16).
"If you go there and play according to your plans, you'll be successful in any conditions and against any bowler."
Pakistan's last tour to England, in 2010, turned out to be a forgettable one. Not only did the visitors lose the series by a 3-1 margin, but three members of the team - Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and the then captain Salman Butt - were convicted of spot-fixing charges and jailed after being caught in the act during the final Test at Lord's. Amir is now back with the squad and the team will kick start their tour at the same venue. Younis, who wasn't part of that team, says the ugly events of 2010 is a closed chapter in the history of Pakistan cricket and they are now looking ahead with confidence.
"It is always a pleasure whenever you play in Lord's," he said. "The tradition and using that dressing room and that ground... in my mind, it's always a challenge and a pleasure for me. So playing cricket in England is all about that," Younis added.
Since the drubbing, Pakistan haven't lost a Test to England and have defeated them twice in their adopted home in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They gained a measure of revenge for their 2010 humiliation with a 3-0 whitewash in 2012 and then beat England by a 2-0 margin when the two teams met late last year.
Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq, team captain, continue to be the lynchpins of this Pakistan batting line-up, but Younis reckons that Pakistan have more to offer than just the two veterans. "Asad Shafiq is there, Azhar Ali is there, then after them, there are some upcoming youngsters," he said.
Younis, who will be on his third tour of England - although his first since 2006, remained coy about his immediate future but gave subtle hints about his impending retirement. "Maybe, it will be my final tour," he said, before quickly adding, "As a cricketer and as a top sportsman, I feel very comfortable with my fitness and my form, so God willing (if) I perform the way I perform for my country, maybe I will play for four-five more years, maybe," he said.
The batsman isn't worried about his country's batting future though and believes it is in safe hands. "Whenever a top cricketer retires everyone thinks 'after him what should we do?'. But suddenly some of the players come and they play for their country and they play for themselves. So I think after us, there will be guys who play better than us," he concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment