Younis Khan

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Younis Khan made his international debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka at Karachi in February 2000, and his Test debut followed on 26 February 2000 against Sri Lanka. He became a mainstay of the Pakistan batting order, particularly after a return to the team in October 2004 at the pivotal one-down position against Sri Lanka in Karachi. He holds the record for the most runs and the most centuries by a Pakistani in Test cricket, and is the third Pakistani player to score 300 or more runs in an innings. He is one of a handful of Test batsmen with a century conversion ratio of over 50 percent, with 34 centuries and 33 fifties. On 23 April 2017, he became the first Pakistani and 13th batsman ever to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He became the oldest and sixth fastest batsmen to reach the 10,000 run milestone in relation to innings played. Younis captained Pakistan to victory in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, their first World Twenty20 title. He also was a member of the Pakistan cricket team that won the 2012 Asia Cup. In a Test match against Australia beginning on 22 October 2014, Younis made his 25th and 26th centuries in the same match, becoming just the 6th Pakistani to do so. On 25 June 2015, Younis became the fifth Pakistani cricketer to play 100 Test matches, and on 13 October 2015, he became Pakistan's highest run scorer in Test cricket, breaking Javed Miandad's record of 8,832 runs. He retired from ODI cricket in November 2015, and retired from all forms of international cricket at the conclusion of the series against the West Indies in May 2017. In his personal life, Younis married Amna on 30 March 2007; they have three children: two sons and one daughter. He experienced several family deaths during 2005 and 2006. In 2005, he flew back from a tour of Australia after his father died. Later that year, his eldest brother, Mohammed Sharif Khan, died aged 41 in a car accident in Ukraine. Another older brother, Farman Ali Khan, was killed in a car accident in Germany in December 2006. Younis was batting in the second ODI against West Indies in Faisalabad when the news of his brother's death reached the team management; he learned of it after returning to the pavilion. He also grieved the death of coach Bob Woolmer in March 2007, whom he saw as a father figure after the loss of his own father. He is known to enjoy fishing when not playing cricket.

Reader's Guide

Younis Khan's significance lies in his exceptional Test batting record, particularly his unique achievement of scoring a century in every country that has hosted Test cricket. He is Pakistan's leading run-scorer and century-maker in Tests, and his century conversion rate (34 centuries to 33 fifties) marks him as one of the most prolific accumulators of big scores. His captaincy brought Pakistan its first World Twenty20 title in 2009. Despite a suspension on 24 March 2010 alongside teammate Mohammad Yousuf for disciplinary breaches—which was lifted three months later—he returned to set multiple records. His ability to perform on foreign tours is highlighted by his average of 106 against India in six Tests, including his highest Test score of 267 in Bangalore. His legacy is also shaped by personal resilience, having overcome the loss of several family members and his mentor Bob Woolmer. He remains a benchmark for middle-order batting in Pakistan cricket history.

Did You Know?

• Younis Khan is the only Test cricketer in history to score a century in all 11 countries that have hosted Test matches.
• He is the third Pakistani player to score 300 or more runs in an innings in Test cricket.
• On 23 April 2017, he became the first Pakistani and 13th batsman ever to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket.
• In a Test against Australia beginning 22 October 2014, Younis made his 25th and 26th centuries in the same match, becoming just the 6th Pakistani to do so.
• He became Pakistan's highest run scorer in Test cricket on 13 October 2015, breaking Javed Miandad's record of 8,832 runs.