Mohammad Yousuf      

Full name Mohammad Yousuf

Born August 27, 1974, Lahore, Punjab

Current age 35 years 87 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

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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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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