Younus wants to bow out on World Cup high

DUBAI - Veteran Pakistani batsman Younus Khan has expressed the hope that his team would win a major ICC event before he hung up his boots, adding that it would be great if it would be next year’s World Cup.

“It’s in my mind that before I leave we win a major ICC (International Cricket Council) event and if that’s the World Cup (50 overs) then it would be great,” the Daily Times quoted Younus, as saying.

India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh host the World Cup from February 19 to April 2 next year, and Younus rates Pakistan as one of the favourites for the event.

“Pakistan is amongst the top four favourites to win the World Cup and I always give top ranking to my team. If we play to our potential we can win the World Cup like we won the World Twenty20,” he said.

Younus, who hit a match-winning 73 in the fourth one day match which saw Pakistan to a narrow one wicket win here on Friday to level the five-match series against South Africa at 2-2, said he fulfils the senior batsman’s job.

“I am one of the most senior players, so my job is to guide the team to safety and whenever I do that I am very happy and it adds to my confidence,” said the veteran, who has so far played 63 Tests and 206 one-day matches for Pakistan.

“If senior players remain focussed and do their jobs then I am sure that Pakistan will make winning a habit and that’s very important at international level,” he added.

Younus hoped that Pakistan clinch the final match against South Africa to be played on Monday (today), saying, “We have not won a series for two years.” Pakistan’s last series win was against West Indies in Abu Dhabi in 2008.

“So it’s important that we clinch this series and get more confidence before the World Cup,” he added. (ANI)