Senior Pakistan batsman Younis Khan is likely to retire from ODI cricket before next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, according to sources.
Well-informed sources aware of the development said that Younis was contemplating quiting from ODIs to focus on his Test career. Younis returned home midway from the tour of Sri Lanka recently due to the death of his nephew.
“Younis is pondering about his ODI future but apparently he just wants to go out with a bang. He wants to focus on his Test career and might step aside before the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand,” a source said.
Younis was recalled to the ODI squad for the Sri Lankan tour in July after being sidelined by the selectors for the limited over format since March, 2013.
When the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) awarded central contracts, he was initially given a category B contract as he was not being considered for selection in ODIs.
But after protests and criticism in the cricket circles, the Board later included Younis in category A. Younis, 37, who has played 91 Tests and 254 ODIs had earlier said that he was keen to play in the World Cup.
Younis had retired from T20 cricket after captaining Pakistan to the World T20 title in England in 2009. “Younis himself is a person who believes one should go out with grace and respect and he himself does not want to be a burden on the one-day squad,” the source said.
“He might decide to take a final shot at ODIs in the coming series against Australia and than go out on a high,” the source added.
