Pakistan’s Younis Khan to retire from ODIs after first match against England in Abu Dhabi

Younis Khan will play his 265th and final one-day match when Pakistan take on England in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Ravindranath K / The National

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has announced his retirement from one-day cricket, saying the first day-night international against England in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday will be his last match.

The 37-year-old had wanted to leave the format on a high after he was selected in the 16-man squad for the four-match series against England despite patchy recent form.

Wednesday’s game will be Younis’s 265th one-day international, nearly 16 years after making his debut against Sri Lanka in Karachi in February 2000.

Going into his last match, Younis has scored 7,240 runs with seven hundreds and 48 half-centuries in one dayers.

“He will retire from one-day cricket after Wednesday’s game and he has conveyed this to us,” team manager Intikhab Alam told AFP.

Younis had retired from Twenty20 cricket after leading Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title in England in 2009.

[INTERVIEW: Pakistan batsman Younis Khan determined to leave ODI cricket with honour]

He was subsequently out of the one-day squad for most of 2013 before being selected for the tour of Sri Lanka in June last year.

He managed to score just three in the only match before he had to return home following the death of his nephew.

Dropped from the one-day team against Australia last year, Younis smashed a total of 468 in the 2-0 Test win against Australia that forced the selectors to recall him to the one-day team.

But he failed miserably in the World Cup 2015, managing 6, nought and 37 in the three matches he played before being dropped from the side again.

Younis said he had consulted with those close to him before reaching the decision.

“I am proud to announce that after playing for Pakistan for 15 years I am announcing my retirement. I consulted with my close friends and family members before taking this decision,” Younis said in a statement.

“As a batsman I played a positive role in the team’s wins in one-day cricket and now I realise that it’s time to keep myself away from limited overs cricket.

“I hope that the young player who takes my place will keep the traditions which I have set on never compromising over discipline and fitness. I thank all my team-mates and team management for their cooperation throughout my career,” said Younis, who will continue to play Test cricket.

“It’s always a tough decision for a player to retire. I played my cricket with sincerity and discipline and see Pakistan’s future as bright and am sure that youngsters can fill in.

“Pakistan became world champions in the past and still has the capacity to become champions of the world again.”

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