Younis Khan undaunted about the Anderson-Broad challenge

Veteran Pakistan batsman Younis Khan says that familiarity will come in handy when his team will bat against the potent new-ball pair of England of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Pakistan is currently preparing for the England tour which is scheduled to four Tests, five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and a single T20 international. The first Test is due to start at the Lord’s in London on July 14.

Younis reckons that Pakistan is unfazed about the thought of facing the in-form English fast bowling duo in their home conditions who share a combined total of 799 Test wickets from 210 matches.

“No doubt about Anderson and Broad — they are the top bowlers these days. But we play regularly against Broad, Finn and Anderson. If you go there and play according to your plans you’ll be successful in any conditions and against any bowler,” Younis told AFP on the sidelines of a dinner organised by Britain’s High Commissioner in Lahore on Thursday (June 16)

Pakistan had a very forgettable time when they toured England last time in 2010, losing the series by a 3-1 margin.

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“It is always a pleasure whenever you play in Lord’s,” he said. “The tradition and using that dressing room and that ground… in my mind it’s always a challenge and a pleasure for me so playing cricket in England is all about that,” Younis added.

Since the drubbing, Pakistan haven’t lost a Test to England and have defeated them twice in their adopted home in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They gained a measure of revenge for their 2010 humiliation with a 3-0 whitewash in 2012 and then beat England by a 2-0 margin when the two teams met late last year.

Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq, team captain, continue to be the back bone of this Pakistan batting line-up, but Younis reckons that Pakistan have more to offer than just the two veterans.

“Asad Shafiq is there, Azhar Ali is there, then after them there are some upcoming youngsters.  Younis, who will be on his third tour of England although his first since 2006, remained coy about his immediate future but gave subtle hints about his impending retirement. “Maybe it will be my final tour,” he said, before quickly adding, “As a cricketer and as a top sportsman I feel very comfortable with my fitness and my form so God willing (if) I perform the way I perform for my country, maybe I will play for four-five more years, maybe,” he said.

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The batsman isn’t worried about his country’s batting future though and believes it is in safe hands. “Whenever a top cricketer retires everyone thinks after him what should we do. But suddenly some of the players come and they play for their country and they play for themselves. So I think after us there will be guys who play better than us,” he concluded.