Describing them as “lifelines” of Pakistani batting, South African skipper Graeme Smith said that the performance of Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf will be key to Pakistan’s performance in their tour to India.
“I think their experience on the tour to India is going to be very, very important. They are going to carry a lot of pressure,” Smith said after sealing the ODI series 3-2 against Pakistan here on Monday night.
“They are two quality batsmen at the moment probably the lifeline of their batting. They control large majority of their batting,” added the South African skipper.
Younis and Yousuf were the stand-out batsmen for Pakistan in the Test and one-day series against the Proteas as the former scored two hundreds in the Tests and latter returned to the team with three half-centuries and a hundred in the one-day rubber.
Smith also praised the comeback performance of maverick fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who took four wickets in the final match, after serving a 13-matches international ban.
“We know what he is capable off and he showed it again against us. He is their main strike option always. He bowled well,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“We know what he is capable off and he showed it again against us. He is their main strike option always. He bowled well,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Yousuf undergoes MRI scan. Meanwhile, Yousuf underwent a precautionary MRI scan for a troublesome knee on Tuesday.