Yousuf keen to make a mark by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	Mohammad Yousuf
Event:	New Zealand in United Arab Emirates 2009/10

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DateLine: 27th October 2009

 

Pakistan middle-order batsman Mohammed Yousuf is keen to score loads of runs when Pakistan tour NZ and Australia later this year.

 

"I am 35 and have had a long career and this might be my last tour to New Zealand and Australia. So I am keen to make a lot of runs against them this time," Yousuf said.

 

The right-hander has been named in both the Test and ODI squads that would first play an ODI series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and then tour New Zealand for three Test matches.

 

The team is scheduled to then fly out to Australia from New Zealand in mid-December to play three Tests and five One Day Internationals.

 

"It is a challenging time ahead of me because I know if I score lots of runs it would have a positive effect on the team.

 

"My main regret during my long career is that we were not able to win a Test series in Australia although I even captained the team there in one Test when Inzamam-ul-Haq was injured," Yousuf said.

 

35-year-old Yousuf, is at present Pakistan's senior most player with 82 Test appearances in which he has a batting average of 54.

 

Yousuf who has an average of 33 against Australia in Australia said it was always a challenge to do well in Australia as they were the best team in the world.

 

"But it is not easy even in New Zealand conditions where the ball seams around a lot and the cold weather is a challenge as well," he said.