The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Younis Khan, the most successful batsman in the history of Pakistan’s Test cricket and former captain, as the new batting coach of the national cricket team for the tour of England, while Mushtaq Ahmed will be the spin bowling coach.
The PCB has taken this decision to provide necessary and important resources to head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis which will help them to further improve the performance of the team.
Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan, who represented Pakistan from 2000 to 2017, scored 10,099 runs in 118 matches in his Test career at an average of over 52.
Younis Khan retired from international cricket in 2017 and this is his first appointment in the PCB since then.
He played an innings of 313 runs in the Karachi Test against Sri Lanka, thanks to which he became the world number one batsman in the ICC rankings.
It is to be noted that before the appointment of Misbah-ul-Haq as the head coach, Younis Khan was being discussed for appointment in the National Cricket Academy on a permanent basis but due to unresolved financial issues, Younis could not be appointed.
One reason for Younis’ appointment is his impressive record in England, where he has scored 810 runs in 16 innings of nine Tests at an average of over 50, including two centuries and three half-centuries.
Apart from Younis Khan, the PCB has appointed former league spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who has the honor of representing Pakistan in 52 Test matches, as the national cricket team’s spin bowling coach and mentor for the tour of England.
Former national team captain Younis Khan said: “There is nothing more important for me than representing my country and it is an honor to have the opportunity to represent the country once again for a difficult tour of England.”
He said that Pakistan cricket team consists of talented players who are capable of reaching heights and together Misbah, Waqar, Mushtaq and they will try their best to train the players inside and outside the field in every possible way.
Younis Khan said that he has never felt ashamed to share his experience and knowledge with others but a visit to England would be a great opportunity for him in this regard.
The former captain said that England’s conditions require technique as well as patience and discipline and if you are proficient in these three areas, you can be effective in any corner of the world, not just England, if the team has effective training. If it does, the results of the tour of England will definitely be better.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim Khan said, “I am happy that a cricketer like Younis Khan with a great batting record has agreed to work with Pakistan Cricket for this important tour.”
Wasim Khan said that Younis Khan’s working principles, determination to prepare for the match and complete knowledge of the game in English conditions and complete mastery of the strategy will be very valuable to us.
He said that Younis is a role model for the current players and he is highly respected. Undoubtedly, the players in the squad will take full advantage of Younis Khan’s presence inside and outside the field.
On the occasion, Wasim Khan also welcomed the appointment of Mushtaq Ahmed and said that Mushtaq Ahmed is well acquainted with the English conditions as he has been playing county cricket for a long time as well as working with the England cricket team. Misbah-ul-Haq will be instrumental in assisting and mentoring the players as well as in formulating the strategy for the match.
Welcoming Younis Khan, Chief Selector and Head Coach of the National Cricket Team Misbah-ul-Haq said that we both know each other very well and together we have brought historic success to Pakistan cricket team in many Test matches.
Misbah-ul-Haq said that when he was given the leadership of Pakistan cricket team in 2010, Younis Khan supported him a lot and he is sure that he will have the full support of Younis Khan in England tour as their common goal. Pakistan cricket team is on the path to success once again.
The head coach of the national team said that Mushtaq Ahmed has extensive experience in training and mentoring players from many countries and his presence will also help us in the preparations before the series.
It may be recalled that the three-Test and three T20 International series between Pakistan and England will be played in August-September