pakistanicricketplary: Muhammad Yousaf

Muhammad Yousaf Biography
Mohammad Yousuf is a pillar of Pakistan batting squad setting many records in cricket history. An orthodox middle order batsman, Yousuf is next to none in his style of batting. Although a perfect Test personality, he is equally successful in one-day internationals.

Mohammad Yousuf, formerly known as Yousuf Youhana made a difficult debut against South Africa in 1997/98. He, however, quickly established himself as a stylish world-class batsman alongside Inzamam-ul-Haq. An orthodox stroke player, he is particularly strong in driving through the covers and flicking off his legs. Mohammad’s Yousuf’s style of batting is a mixture of both composure and aggression. He is an ideal batsman to play under pressure thereby winning and saving many Tests under difficult situations. A prolific run-getter, he hit his first ton against Zimbabwe in 1998/99. He has centuries against all Test playing nations. Besides, he had four marathon double centuries against New Zealand, England and Bangladesh. Mohammad Yousuf scored four hundreds in three Tests against the West Indies in 2006, a feat that outshined Vivian Richards's long-standing record of most Test runs in a calendar year. Considering his performance in late 2005, Mohammad Yousuf set a record of most Test hundreds, to be specific nine, in a season. In one-day Internationals, he is also a magnificent player. In 242 one-dayers, he hit 12 centuries and 54 fifties to the total of 8081. His career best is 141 not out. He, however, did not do well in 2007 World Cup leading his exclusion for the ICC inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in 2007. Angry at the decision, Mohammad Yousuf signed for the rebel Indian Cricket League only to break the contract later making him available for Pakistan national squad. He was the only Christian player in Pakistan team ever before his conversion to Islam in 2005.

Muhammad Yousaf