Performance matters most, not big names: Younis Khan

COLOMBO - As middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf makes his way back into the Pakistan team for the Test series against Sri Lanka, captain Younis Khan has said performance, and not big names, matter in the game.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a function where the trophy for the Test series was unveiled, Khan expressed hope that his team would start from where it had left in England after winning the ICC World Twenty20 Championship.

He admitted that Sri Lanka is a tough team to beat with plenty of world-class players.

“The Sri Lanka tour will be a big challenge. We will have to leave our World Cup win behind and focus on what is a very tough assignment against Sri Lanka,” Khan said.

Khan said his team will have to give more than 100 percent to beat Sri Lanka on its home soil.

“In Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka have a wise captain and their team is balanced with quality players, so we will have to be at our best to get positive results,” The News quoted Khan, as saying.

He said Pakistan will be under pressure in the series especially after its World T20 triumph.

“It will be double pressure on us because our people want wins in every match and after the Twenty20 success they want more success and that can put pressure on us, but we are ready for it,” said Khan.

Khan opined that Test cricket was more important and serious form of the game, as it helped players to gauge their capability.

Twenty20 cricket was different and Test cricket is different, it seriously tests the abilities of a player whereas I don’t think the abilities of a player can be gauged in a Twenty20 match,” he said. (ANI)