Mohammad Yousuf Biography
Mohammad Yousuf, also known as Yousuf Youhana, is a former Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team from 1998 to 2010. He was born on August 27, 1974, in Lahore, Pakistan.
Early Life and Education
Yousuf's early life was marked by financial struggles, as his family could not afford to buy him a cricket bat. Despite this, Yousuf was determined to pursue his passion for the sport and started playing with makeshift bats made from tree branches. He honed his skills by practicing for long hours and eventually caught the attention of local cricket coaches.
Debut in First-class Cricket
Yousuf's talent soon led him to make his debut in first-class cricket for Lahore in 1994. He quickly made a name for himself as a talented middle-order batsman, known for his stylish strokeplay and impeccable technique. He scored his first century in 1995 against Sri Lanka A and went on to establish himself as a consistent performer in domestic cricket.
Debut in International Cricket
In 1998, Yousuf was selected to play for the Pakistani national team in an ODI series against Zimbabwe. He made an immediate impact, scoring 56 runs in his debut match. He continued to impress in subsequent matches and soon became a regular member of the team.
Yousuf's breakthrough performance came in the 2000-01 season, where he scored a staggering 1788 runs in 28 innings, including nine centuries and six fifties, at an average of 99.33. This performance earned him the Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 2002, making him the first Pakistani player to receive the honor.
Yousuf's success continued in the following years, as he scored heavily in both Test and ODI cricket. He played a key role in Pakistan's victory in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, scoring two half-centuries in the tournament. However, his career was not without controversy, as he was involved in a dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board over his conversion to Islam and subsequent name change from Yousuf Youhana to Mohammad Yousuf.
Retired
Yousuf retired from international cricket in 2010, finishing his career with impressive statistics. He scored 7530 runs in 90 Test matches at an average of 52.29, including 24 centuries and 33 fifties. In ODIs, he scored 9720 runs in 288 matches at an average of 41.71, including 15 centuries and 64 fifties.
Success
Yousuf's success in cricket was not limited to the international arena. He also played domestic cricket for a number of teams, including Lahore, Faisalabad, and Karachi, where he served as the team captain. He also played in various T20 leagues around the world, including the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash League.
Despite his retirement from cricket, Yousuf remains a prominent figure in Pakistani cricket. He has been involved in coaching and mentoring young players and has been a commentator for various cricket events. He has also been an outspoken critic of the Pakistan Cricket Board, calling for reforms to improve the sport in the country.
Yousuf's success in cricket is a testament to his determination and hard work. Despite facing numerous obstacles, he never gave up on his dream of playing cricket at the highest level. His contributions to Pakistani cricket will be remembered for generations to come, and his legacy as one of the greatest batsmen in the country's history is secure
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