Senior batsman Younis Khan is keen to leave an imprint in ODIs leading up to the World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.
Younis, who has won a recall to the one-day squad after bring ignored for nearly one year by the national selectors for this format said he had set himself goals in the ODIs and wanted to cash in on the opportunities he got in this format in the coming months.
“Whatever format you play in it is important to try to cash in on whatever opportunity you get.
For me playing for Pakistan is the most important thing and this time whenever the I get the chance to play in the ODIs I want to leave my mark and achieve some ambitions,” he said.
The senior batsman whose ODI record has not matched his test run scoring feats said he loved playing in any format.
“I don`t want to be remembered as someone who was good in one format…I want to make these coming ODIs memorable for my team and my country. I see these coming ODI matches as very important. I would first of all like to get to the 50 half centuries mark,” Younis told PTI.
Younis noted that unless he proved himself in the ODIs he couldn`t be sure about finding a place in the World Cup squad.
“A lot of people have shown a lot of faith in me and I am grateful for the support shown by the people as well. I will try not to let them down,” stated Younis whose last ODI appearance was in March, 2013 in South Africa.
While Younis 36, has scored 7399 runs in 89 Tests at a healthy average of 51.38, his ODI record is 7014 runs in 253 ODIs at an average of 31.88.
Younis who is the only Pakistani to score a test triple hundred as captain when he made 313 against Sri Lanka at Karachi in 2009 dismissed talk about him again getting lot of runs on the coming tour of Sri Lanka.
“Yes, it is true Sri Lanka have been a good team for me I scored a hundred against them on my test debut and the triple hundred but this is a new series and this going to be a much tougher series as they have been doing well in recent times.
“I will just try to give my best but yes when you resume playing in any form of the game after a break it takes a while to find your rythm and timing.”
Pakistan tours Sri Lanka in August to play two tests and three ODIs. This is their first test in seven months time as their last test was also against Sri Lanka in the UAE in January.
Younis was also all praise for the new head coach, Waqar Younis who has begun a second stint with the national team.
“I have worked with Waqar before when he was head coach and during his time the team showed very good progress and won consistently. I am confident we will resume our winning and improvement process once again from where we left off last time,” he added.
Pakistan is scheduled to play atleast 15 ODIs before the World Cup against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand.
