Full name Mohammad Yousuf
Born August 27, 1974, Lahore, Punjab
Current age 35 years 76 days
Major teams Pakistan, Asia XI, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Lahore Badshahs, Lancashire, Pakistan International Airlines, Water and Power Development Authority
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Batting | Bowling | Career statistics | Profile | Notes | Timeline | Best Performances | Cricinfo Picks | Latest Articles | Photos+ | Latest Photos
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 82 | 140 | 12 | 7023 | 223 | 54.86 | 13305 | 52.78 | 24 | 29 | 892 | 48 | 60 | 0 |
| ODIs | 278 | 263 | 40 | 9543 | 141* | 42.79 | 12676 | 75.28 | 15 | 63 | 774 | 88 | 54 | 0 |
| T20Is | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 20 | 20.00 | 19 | 105.26 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 126 | 210 | 20 | 9645 | 223 | 50.76 | 29 | 45 | 79 | 0 | ||||
| List A | 315 | 299 | 45 | 10310 | 141* | 40.59 | 15 | 67 | 64 | 0 | ||||
| Twenty20 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 167 | 30 | 16.70 | 166 | 100.60 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 82 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 3.00 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 278 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1/0 | 1/0 | 1.00 | 3.00 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| First-class | 126 | 18 | 24 | 0 | - | - | - | 8.00 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| List A | 315 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 1/0 | 1/0 | 13.00 | 9.75 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Twenty20 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 6.00 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Test debut | South Africa v Pakistan at Durban, Feb 26-Mar 2, 1998 scorecard |
| Last Test | Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo (SSC), Jul 20-24, 2009 scorecard |
| Test statistics | |
| ODI debut | Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Harare, Mar 28, 1998 scorecard |
| Last ODI | New Zealand v Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Nov 6, 2009 scorecard |
| ODI statistics | |
| Only T20I | England v Pakistan at Bristol, Aug 28, 2006 scorecard |
| T20I statistics | |
| First-class debut | 1996/97 |
| Last First-class | National Bank of Pakistan v Water and Power Development Authority at Lahore, Oct 16-19, 2009 scorecard |
| List A debut | 1996/97 |
| Last List A | New Zealand v Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Nov 6, 2009 scorecard |
| Twenty20 debut | Karachi Dolphins v Lahore Lions at Lahore, Apr 25, 2005 scorecard |
| Last Twenty20 | Lahore Lions v Sialkot Stallions at Lahore, Oct 7, 2008 scorecard |
Until his conversion to Islam in 2005, Mohammad Yousuf (formely known as Yousuf Youhana) was one of a handful of Christians to play for Pakistan. After a difficult debut against South Africa in 1997-98, he quickly established himself as a stylish world-class batsman, and a pillar of Pakistan's middle order, alongside Inzamam-ul-Haq.
He is no sluggard, but gathers his runs through orthodox, composed strokeplay, unlike some of his colleagues who seldom hint at permanence. He is particularly strong driving through the covers and flicking wristily off his legs and brings with him as decadent and delicious a backlift as any in the game. A tendency to overbalance when playing across his front leg can get him into trouble. He excels at both versions of the game, and in one-day cricket can score 20 or 30 runs before anyone notices. He is quick between the wickets although not necessarily the best judge of a single. There had been questions about his temperament as batsman when the pressure is on, but between 2004 and 2005, he began to silence critics.
First came a spellbindingly languid century against the Australians in Melbourne, as captain to boot, where he ripped into Shane Warne like few Pakistani batsmen have before or since. A century in the cauldron of Kolkatta followed but he ended the year with possibly his most important knock: a double century against England at Lahore so easy on the eye, you almost didn't notice it. Yousuf displaying an unusual responsibility, eschewing the waftiness that has previously blighted him.
In 2006, Yousuf truly came of age in a record-breaking year. He began by plundering India and continued in England, not just scoring under pressure, but scoring big. A double ton at Lord's was followed by another big hundred at Headingly and the Oval. He rounded off a fantastic year with four hundreds in three Tests against the West Indies, a feat that took him past Viv Richards's long-standing record of most Test runs in a calendar year and also saw him establish the record for most Test hundreds (9) in a year. A poor World Cup - and he certainly wasn't alone - didn't deter from the impression that Yousuf, with Inzamam-ul-Haq gone, had taken over as Pakistan's premier batsman,
But his surprise exclusion from the 15-man squad for the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship led him to signing up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Though the PCB persuaded him to cancel the ICL contract and sign a national contract instead and he was swiftly drafted into the national side for the Test and ODI series against South Africa, he did eventually join the ICL in November 2008. However, with the PCB granting an amnesty to players in the unofficial league, he was picked for Pakistan's 15-member squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in June 2009, signalling a delayed, but much-needed comeback.
Osman Samiuddin June 2009
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2007
ICC Test Player of the Year 2007
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February 26, 1998
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Makes his Test debut against South Africa in Durban, scoring 5 and 1 as Pakistan win by 29 runs. He is the fourth Christian to represent Pakistan.
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March 28, 1998
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Makes his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in Harare, scoring an unbeaten 59 to help Pakistan chase 237 with four wickets left.
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November 10, 1998
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Hits his maiden ODI hundred, 100 from 111 balls in his 10th ODI, against Australia, but the tourists chase down 316 with six wickets in hand, successfully equaling the then-highest run-chase in one-day international history.
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West Indies have skittled half the Pakistan side for less than 40 runs, after they chose to bat, but Youhana leads the rescue act with a classy 115 in six hours, with 14 fours. His dismissal shortly before stumps brings the innings to an end and gives the persevering Walsh his 18th five-wicket innings return in Tests. He rates this, his third Test century, as best over his debut hundred and his 95 against Australia in Brisbane.
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Pakistan make a flying start, but India hit back to leave them 103 for 4. Youhana leads the recovery with a canny 100, and displays the kind of maturity that would have made Javed Miandad proud. He paces his innings with precision, and never looks ruffled. His first fifty occupies 90 balls, his second just 23, with the last ball of the innings, from T Kumaran, sent over long-on for six. India lose and are eliminated from the Asia Cup.
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Pakistan are 273 for 8 in response to England's 480, and are the only team that can lose the match from there. Youhana, though, gets company in Saqlain Mushtaq, and takes complete charge. Youhana resumes the fifth morning on 77 in Pakistan's 333 for 8, and departs after scoring a top-class 124 as the hosts hold on for a draw. Saqlain scores 32 out of a 121-run ninth-wicket stand.
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- Thank god it's Yousuf (Aug 7, 2007)
- Mohammad Yousuf (Mar 28, 2007)
- Hard work and a hunger for runs (Nov 30, 2006)
- Lofty elegance (Aug 21, 2006)
- Finding Faith (Sep 23, 2005)
- Yousuf tips Pakistan to succeed (Oct 1, 2009)
- Oldtimer Yousuf plays ideal supporting act (Sep 26, 2009)
- Former Pakistan players blast senior batsmen (Sep 24, 2009)
- Returning Yousuf becomes No. 1 Test batsman (Jul 8, 2009)
- Just like old times (Jul 5, 2009)
Nov 3, 2009
Mohammad Yousuf heads back after being run out
© Associated Press
Oct 3, 2009
Mohammad Yousuf is bowled
© AFP
Oct 3, 2009
Mohammad Yousuf cuts off the back foot
© AFP
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