Former Pakistan captain is “great addition” to squad, say club
WARWICKSHIRE County Cricket Club has finalised terms to bring Pakistani batsman Younus Khan to the club for the nest two seasons.
The 32-year-old will join the squad for pre-season preparations next March subject to final fitness checks on arrival and approval of the appropriate Home Office work permits and ECB registration, the club said.
Younus is universally acknowledged as one of finest batsmen for his country in recent years, and has played in 63 Test matches – averaging 50.09 with the bat and a further 202 one day internationals at an average of 32.57 for Pakistan since making his debut in 2000. His most recent Test match was against Sri Lanka in Colombo in July 2009.
He has had previous stints in the English county league with Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Surrey.
Commenting on the signing, Warwickshire’s Director of Cricket, Ashley Giles said: “Everyone at Warwickshire is delighted that we have been able to complete the signing of Younus from the start of the 2011 season.
“He is a great addition to the Bears squad and will add tremendous depth to our batting line up. A player of his quality brings with him vast knowledge and experience all of which will add so much to our young, developing squad and with more than 30,000 runs “under his belt” in all forms of the game through his long career Younus is a great acquisition.”
With his sights set on the season Younus described the move as “exciting.”
“I am really looking forward to playing at Warwickshire next year and maintaining their high standards,” he said.
“Warwickshire have a fantastic team with Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, and a great coach in Ashley Giles, so with the new ground development as well it’s all very exciting.”
Younus is expected to join the Bears squad for pre-season preparations next March but will be in regular contact with Ashley Giles and the coaching staff to plan the campaign for 2011.
