Are Pakistan selectors trying an already tested failure?

Younis Khan takes the long walk back after being dismissed in an ODI against South Africa, March 2013.

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan, at 36, probably has entered the prestigious list of some of the finest cricketers the country has ever produced. To back his batting abilities, he has a passionate attitude towards cricket and is a brilliant fielder.

However, much of the success and fame that he earned has largely been through Test cricket; this can be justified by the fact that he has amassed 7399 runs at an average of 51.4 in the longer format of the game. The questionable selection policies of Pakistani selectors tried to ensure that he translates these numbers to the 50-over games, as well. Unfortunately, that could not happen over the course of 14 years.

Not suited to the demands of fast-paced format

He possesses a far from satisfactory One Day International (ODI) record, averaging 31.88 in the 253 matches that he has played with a strike rate of 75.4 and has crossed the 100-run mark only six times in his career. Moreover, with his age entering the wrong side of thirties, the selectors should be questioned to justify his sudden comeback to green colours after an ODI axe that lasted over a year.

To judge batting performances in limited overs cricket nowadays, the batting strike-rate can be a vital indicator. With Pakistan already having slow and steady accumulators in the consistent skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and the rediscovered, young Fawad Alam, they probably cannot afford another of that type in the modern day requirements of the ODI format.

The reason being the evolvement of the game has resulted in bigger targets being set and higher par scores that requires attacking nature of batting with which Younis is not naturally gifted at. For instance, this has even forced a seasoned campaigner like Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka to play a more attacking brand of cricket in recent times; primarily due to his remarkable performances in the format, he sits at no. 5 in the latest edition of ICC ODI batting rankings.

In the year long axe of Younis, selectors experimented with testing youngsters and that has yielded quite positive results, too: Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Sohaib Maqsood and Haris Sohail have indicated that they can develop into bigger names with a consistent run in the side. However, these young careers have been badly dented in recent times when players like Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal or, the latest case, Younis Khan have made abrupt comebacks to the team despite no pleasing performances in even domestic competitions.

Recent form doesn’t help his case, either

Younis has never robbed my house or depicted any personal hatred towards me and instead been a remarkable servant for his nation for his Test cricket exploits. However, I only oppose him because no logical argument suggests he should make a comeback to current ODI set-up for Pakistan. A revealing stat to be noted is that, since 1 January 2009, Younis averages 24 with a strike-rate of 68 in 61 innings against all Test playing countries. Furthermore, throughout his ODI career, his runs have predominantly been scored in subcontinental conditions, with 5 of his 6 career hundreds coming on familiar wickets.

I may be overly critical but only considering the venue of the next major task of the Pakistani team is the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, less than a year away, as those conditions are completely opposite to what Younis enjoys batting in.

Though the counter-argument stands that none of the current crop of Pakistani batsmen have been instrumental in those conditions except Misbah, but, my question remains, why try an already tested failure?

Key stat

18.9 - This is Younis Khan’s ODI average in 2013 in 7 innings, but there is something to be pleased of: it is 0.3 runs better than what Younis managed in 2012. He scored at 18.6 in 11 innings in 2012.