We can break World Cup jinx against India: Younis Khan

Younis Khan

Experienced Pakistan middle-order batsman Younis Khan has said that he is currently in the best period of his batting career and hasn't yet entertained thoughts of retiring from the game. The 37-year-old right-hander has represented his country in 259 ODI games and has scored 7177 runs at an average of 31.75, in a career spanning close to 15 years.

"I have not thought about an immediate retirement because frankly speaking I am still enjoying playing and my hunger for cricket is still there. I still don't want to end one of the best periods of my life which is playing international cricket," Younis told reporters in Lahore.

"Retirement will be my personal decision,” he added.

Younis probably had his best year with the bat in 2014, scoring 1064 runs in 9 Tests at an average of 66.50, and he was hopeful of carrying that form into the World Cup.

"Recently when I played against Australia in the Tests, people were wondering if Younis was finished, but I just hit form and started scoring centuries on a trot. This purple patch can also happen to me in the World Cup," he said.

Can break the jinx this time: Younis

Pakistan begins its World Cup campaign against India on February 15 at the Adelaide Oval, and Younis sounded confident about the current outfit beating the Men in Blue and ending its losing streak in the mega event. India has never lost to Pakistan in World Cup cricket.

"History is there to be changed and my feeling is this time we can change it and win against India in Adelaide," the former captain said.

When asked about who he thought would be the favourites ahead of the event, Younis said that Australia and New Zealand will have an obvious advantage as they are playing on home soil, but no one team can be called an outright favourite to win the title.

"You can say in Australian and New Zealand conditions, the host countries or South Africa and England will have an advantage but even they cannot be termed as favourites," he said.

Misbah has played a key role in the revival of Pakistan cricket: Younis

Pakistan was rocked by the spot-fixing scandal in 2010, after which Misbah Ul-Haq took over the captaincy reigns from Salman Butt. Younis feels that the 40-year-old has done a commendable job in bringing the side out of troubled waters.

“Misbah has played a big role in reviving Pakistan cricket after the spot-fixing scandal and as a captain he has done a lot to bring stability to the team," he said.