Younis Khan announces retirement from international cricket

KARACHI: Veteran batsman and Pakistan's highest run-scorer in Test cricket Younis Khan announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday.

"I will be retiring from international cricket after the West Indies series with my head held high," 39-year-old Khan told reporters at a press conference in Karachi.

Khan said he had been under a lot of pressure from friends and family not to retire, but that he thought it was the best moment in his life to make that decision.

"I was under a lot of pressure, getting calls from everyone. I think this is the right time as every sportsman has to take this decision in his career."

The veteran batsman has played 115 matches in his Test career, scoring a total of 9,977 runs at an average of 53.06. He knocked his highest score of 313 runs against Sri Lanka in February 2009.

Khan is shy of 23 runs to reach the 10,000-runs mark in Test cricket. He is part of the Test squad that is set to play against West Indies later this month.

"I hope I will be supported so I can complete 10,000 runs before I retire," he said.

'Ambassador for Pakistan'

Speaking to reporters, Khan said that he had always tried to give a 100 percent for his team and act as an "ambassador for Pakistan".

"I have always tried to keep my head high and serve the way a Pakistani player should serve his country. Those who know me, know that I have tried to serve Pakistan the best [I could] and take Pakistan one step forward."

"I think I am not in that stage of my life that I can continue for five or six more years. I hope you will all support me and respect my decision so I can continue with what I have planned for the future," he said.

"If I have made any mistakes, I hope I will be ignored for that," he said.

Speaking to Geo News, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram also praised Khan. "Younis is one of the best batsmen we have had. And he has always given his best for Pakistan," he said.

"Younis was always a very hard-working player. He was proactive in all fields of the game, whether it was batting, fielding, helping others out during practice. He was a proper team-man. The way he has handled his image, he will always be respected for it," said Akram.

He said it would take "years to fill the void left by Younis Khan".

Earlier this year, Khan became the first player in the history of Test cricket to score centuries in 11 countries when he smashed his 34th century at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Australia, tying him with Sunil Gavaskar, Mahela Jayawardene and Brian Lara in the all-time list at 6th place for most hundreds.

Khan's retirement follows a similar announcement from Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who said earlier this week that the series against West Indies would be his last.