Pakistan’s most prolific Test batsman Younis Khan will quit international cricket after the three-Test series in West Indies starting later this month, the 39-year-old said on Saturday.
Younis’ announcement comes after captain Misbah-ul-Haq said on Thursday that the Caribbean tour will be his last.
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“People are calling me and asking me not to make any announcement to leave but now is the time,” the former captain said in Karachi.
“No player always remains fit, the motivation never remains the same, so this is the time when Younis should leave the field after the upcoming series in West Indies.”
Younis has played 115 Tests and is Pakistan’s most successful runs scorer in Test cricket. He heads into the West Indies tour needing 23 runs to become his country’s first batsman to score 10,000 Test runs.
“I always tried to be a good ambassador and serve my country to take it one step forward,” Younis added.
“I hope I will be supported so I can complete 10,000 runs before I retire.”
In 2009, Younis hit his best Test score of 313 against Sri Lanka, which is the third-highest from a Pakistan batsman in the longest format.
Later that year, he led his country to a World T20 win at Lord’s where they defeated Sri Lanka to lift the trophy.
Younis played 265 one day international and bagged 7249 runs before he retired in 2015. He also played 25 Twenty20 matches for his country.
The batsman was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year along side Misbah earlier this week, after bagging a double-century during Pakistan 2-2 drawn Test series in England last year.
Earlier this year, Younis became the first batsman ever to score centuries in all 11 countries that have hosted Tests after completing his set with a maiden ton in Australia.
* Reuters
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