Younis Khan mulling ODI retirement after England series

Since March 2013, Younis has played just 11 ODIs in the last two and half years.

Karachi: Senior Pakistan batsman Younis Khan is contemplating calling it a day from one-day internationals after the series against England in the UAE.

Well-informed sources told PTI today that Younis might announce his retirement from one-day internationals during or after the four-match series.

"There has been so much controversy over his selection in the one-day team and plus the clear indications from the team management that they want to build a young team for the World Cup 2019 that Younis is contemplating retirement," one source confirmed.

He said that Younis, 37, has been waiting for the right time to call it a day from 50-overs cricket and the series against England gives him this chance.

"He has not decided as yet but he himself is keen to end the controversy surrounding his selection for ODIs and there is a chance he might decide to take a bow himself after having played the series against England," the source said.

Younis was recalled to the Pakistan squad for the series last week after he last played an ODI in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in March 2015.

Since March 2013 the senior batsman, who has been in record breaking form in Test cricket, has been out of the ODI squad for long periods and has played just 11 matches in the last two and half years.

"His close friends and cricket advisors also feel Younis should retire from ODIs when he is in the team and do it himself," the source stated.

Sources close to the national selectors also said they got vibes from Younis that he might quit ODIs next month.

The selectors earlier this year had made an offer to Younis to lead the team in Zimbabwe when Azhar Ali was not available but quit afterwards but he declined the offer saying he will quit on his own terms.

Head coach Waqar Younis during his recent meetings with chief selector Haroon Rasheed in Sharjah assured him that Younis would not sit on the bench and get a chance to play the full series.

The chief selector after much difficulty managed to convince the head coach to give the in-form Younis a shot in the ODI series.