Yusuf Pathan Profile by CricketArchive

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Player:

YK Pathan

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DateLine: 7th June 2008

 

His younger brother has already swept millions of Indian girls with his charm, now it is the turn of Yusuf to impress everyone with his swagger, never mind the looks.

 

He first caught attention as some one who could hit the ball hard and long as well as a useful off spinner in the making while playing for the Baroda Under-16 team in the Vijay Merchant Trophy in 1999-2000. From there he progressed to the Baroda U-19 and the West Zone U-19 sides.

 

He made his Ranji debut against Saurashtra immediately in the next season that is 2001-02, but only by the 2004-05 season, was he able to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with in the domestic circuit. He ended that season as Baroda's fourth-highest scorer and third-highest wicket-taker.

 

His ability to score runs quickly and impressive performances in the Deodhar Trophy and Twenty20 domestic tournament in the 2006-07 season was rewarded with a spot in India's squad for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa. It also helped that he had a strike rate of more than 200, something unheard of in this part of the world. He was most impressive playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in 2008 and notched up 435 runs with four fifties at a strike-rate of 179, including the fastest fifty of the tournament’s first season, off just 21 balls against the Deccan Chargers. He won the man of the match award in the finals and his good showing earned him a call up to the ODI squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan.