KARACHI: Veteran Pakistan batsman and former captain Younis Khan announced on Saturday he will retire from international cricket after the upcoming Test series in the West Indies.
The 39 year-old has captained Pakistan in all three formats, and in 2009 led them to their only World Twenty20 title in England.
"I will be retiring... with my head held high," he told a press conference in Karachi. "I think this is the right time as every sportsman has to take this decision in his career."
Younis hit a hundred in his first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi in 2000, which started a glorious career during which he also scored a double hundred in Pakistan's series-levelling win against India at Bangalore in 2005.
He needs only 23 runs to reach 10,000 Test runs, a milestone he missed out on after his team's disastrous tour of Australia in January this year, when Pakistan lost all three Tests.
He has so far scored 34 Test centuries in 115 matches -- the most by any Pakistani batsman -- and is set to become the first Pakistani and 13th batsman in the world to score 10,000 or more.
India's Sachin Tendulkar currently tops the charts with 15,921 runs in 200 matches.
"I was planning this for few months," he said of his decision to quit, but added that he "always tried to play for my team and for my country".
One of the worst moments of Younis' career was when Pakistan lost their coach Bob Woolmer during the 2007 World Cup in West Indies, he said.
Woolmer coached Pakistan from 2004 to 2007 but died in mysterious circumstances in Jamaica.
After lengthy investigations that even included the possibility of murder, Jamaican police on June 12 announced that Woolmer had died of natural causes.
"Those were very sad days for me," Younis recalled.
- 'Tough to replace' -
Younis is the second high-profile player to retire this month after his team mate Misbah-ul-Haq also announced his decision to quit on Thursday following months of speculation.
The pair have formed the nucleus of Pakistan's batting in the last seven years and helped their team square a crucial Test series 2-2 in England last year.
On Wednesday the two stalwarts were named in Wisden's best cricketers of the year 2017, following their performances on the England tour after which Pakistan briefly rose to number one in Test rankings for the first time.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram paid rich tribute to Younis.
"He is still fit but there is always a time when you have to decide about leaving," said Wasim.
"He has set many records which prove his greatness. Whenever he played he played with his heart and commitment.
"It will be tough to replace players like Younis and Misbah, so Pakistan will have to work hard in Tests without them."
Younis said he will remain associated with cricket following his retirement.
"Even though I will be retired from playing, my services will still be available for cricket," he said.The West Indies series which starts in Jamaica from April 21 followed by Tests in Barbados and Dominica, ending on May 14. -AFP
