Cricket: Younis Khan to retire from ODI format after World Cup, say sources

KARACHI: Veteran Pakistan batsman Younis Khan is likely to announce his retirement from the One-day format after the World Cup, sources claimed today.

It means that after the mega event in Australia and New Zealand, Pakistan will lose Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi and Younis.

A source close to Younis told PTI that the senior batsman was desperate to play in the World Cup.

"But he has already made up his mind that after the World Cup he will announce his retirement from one-day internationals to give the new and younger players a chance," the source said.

"When the selectors dropped him for the one-dayers against Australia, he forced his way back into the ODI side but decided to put his announcement on hold. But he has mentally prepared himself to only play test cricket after the World Cup," the source disclosed.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and all-rounder, Shahid Afridi have already announced they will retire from ODIs after the World Cup regardless of their form or performances in the mega event.

"If Younis also retires it means it will pave the way for head coach, Waqar Younis and the cricket board to build a new one-day team under a new captain for which Sohaib Maqsood and Asad Shafiq are front runners," a PCB insider said.

Younis, 37, has played 96 Tests and 259 one-day internationals over a long career but his records in both formats are in complete contrast.

While in Test matches he averages a healthy 53.37, in ODIs he has managed just 31.75 after he scored his first ODI hundred recently against New Zealand after a gap of nearly six years.