Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
📖

Younis Khan

sports Maturity 7-9 war conflict Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: war_conflict. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Younis Khan is a celebrated Pakistani professional cricketer and coach.

YounisKhan1
YounisKhan1

He is widely considered one of the greatest middle-order batsmen in the history of Test cricket. Test cricket is a long format of the game that can last up to five days. Khan is famous for his ability to score high numbers of runs under pressure. He served as the captain for the Pakistan national team in all three major formats. Under his leadership, Pakistan won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 title. This was the first time the nation won that specific championship. He also helped the team secure the 2012 Asia Cup victory.

As a batsman, Khan achieved milestones that few players in history have reached. He is the only Test cricketer to score a century in all 11 countries that have hosted Test matches. A century is a score of at least 100 runs in a single innings.

Younis khan batting
Younis khan batting

He holds the record for the most runs and most centuries scored by any Pakistani in Test cricket. In 2017, he became the first Pakistani to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He reached this milestone as the oldest and sixth fastest player in terms of innings played. His century conversion ratio is also remarkable, staying above 50 percent with 34 centuries and 33 fifties.

Khan's career included successful periods playing in various domestic leagues around the world. In England, he played county cricket for teams such as Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Surrey. While playing for Yorkshire in 2007, he became the first player for that club to score both a century and a double century in the same match. He scored 106 runs and then 202 runs against Hampshire. In Australia, he played for the Southern Redbacks in the 2008–09 season. He even participated in the Indian Premier League when he was drafted by the Rajasthan Royals for $300,000.

Younis khan batting
Younis khan batting

His international journey began in the year 2000. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Sri Lanka in February of that year. He also made his Test debut during the same tour. Throughout his career, he played over 250 ODIs and more than 110 Test matches. Khan was known for performing exceptionally well on foreign grounds. For example, he maintained an average of 106 in the six Tests he played against India. This is the highest average achieved by any Pakistani cricketer against that specific opponent.

YounisKhan1
YounisKhan1

Leadership was a central part of Khan's professional life, though it brought many challenges. He was appointed the permanent captain of both the Test and ODI teams in January 2009. Shortly after, he faced a difficult period involving a parliamentary investigation into match-fixing allegations. Although he was cleared of any wrongdoing, the situation led him to resign as captain in October 2009. He expressed that he was disgusted by the allegations made against him and his team. He later returned to leadership roles, including serving as a mentor for Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League.

Khan's personal life involved significant hardship alongside his sporting achievements. He experienced the loss of several family members during his playing years. In 2005, his father passed away while Khan was on a tour in Australia. His eldest brother, Mohammed Sharif Khan, died in a car accident in Ukraine in 2005. Mohammed had been the person who taught Younis how to play cricket. Later, his brother Farman Ali Khan died in a car accident in Germany in 2006.

Younis Khan Graph
Younis Khan Graph

Khan also felt deep grief following the death of his coach, Bob Woolmer, in 2007.

Beyond his batting, Khan was a skilled slip fielder and an occasional leg-spin bowler. His career statistics provide a clear view of his impact on the game.

Younis Khan Graph
Younis Khan Graph

He was the third Pakistani player to score 300 or more runs in a single innings. In 2015, he broke the record for the highest run scorer in Pakistan Test history, previously held by Javed Miandad. Khan retired from all forms of international cricket in May 2017 after a series against the West Indies. When he is not focused on cricket, he enjoys the hobby of fishing.

689 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Younis khan batting.jpg
Younis khan batting.jpg
File:YounisKhan1.jpg
YounisKhan1.jpg
File:Younis Khan Graph.png
Younis Khan Graph.png
More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.