ADELAIDE: Former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan received a warm welcome during his visit to the iconic Adelaide Oval earlier today.
The legendary batter, who arrived in Australia this morning, was presented with the official South Australia Redbacks cap by Mark Cosgrove, a former Australian cricketer and the current High-Performance Coach of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA). The former Pakistan skipper notably represented the Redbacks during the 2008-09 season.
In a media briefing at the venue, Younis shared his thoughts on the current state of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, expressing optimism about their chances in Australia. He acknowledged the presence of young talent in the white-ball squad but highlighted some concerns regarding team selection.
“I hope the Pakistan men’s cricket team performs well in Australia. The current squad includes young players, and there are certainly some issues with team selection that need to be addressed,” Younis said.
Reflecting on his experiences, the 46-year-old noted the efforts of Jason Gillespie, who is working diligently to enhance the performance of the Pakistan team. However, he stressed the importance of improved decision-making in team selections.
“I have played cricket with Jason Gillespie; he is working hard to improve the Pakistan team. However, there needs to be better decision-making when it comes to selection,” he said
He also proposed new contenders for the captaincy role, suggesting that stepping away from the leadership could benefit Babar Azam.
“Stepping away from the captaincy will be beneficial for Babar Azam. In our culture, we often make the biggest player the captain, which I believe is a mistake. Either Mohammad Rizwan or Fakhar Zaman should be considered for the role,” he concluded.
As part of his ongoing involvement in cricket, Khan is set to participate in the upcoming Australian Summer Cricket Festival, scheduled for October 5 in Melbourne. He will join top Australian cricketers, including Glenn Maxwell and Jake Fraser-McGurk, in this highly anticipated event, which aims to celebrate the sport and bring together cricketing talent.
