Pakistan's Younus Khan to make Shield debut by AFP

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Player:

Younis Khan

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DateLine: 20th October 2008

 

Pakistan Test batsman Younus Khan will make his debut for Australian state side South Australia in their Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales starting in Adelaide on Friday, team officials said.

 

Younus arrived last week to join South Australia after completing international commitments with the Pakistan team in Canada.

 

Team coach Mark Sorell said Younus had made an immediate impact on his new teammates.

 

"He has just got a genuine passion for the game, a very infectious character," Sorell said. "His record obviously speaks for himself, but he genuinely loves the game of cricket and wants to do well.

 

"He has already had an impact on our guys."

 

Sorell said Younus would likely bat at number three in his first Shield match. "We are pretty excited to see what he can bring us," Sorell said.

 

"But at the end of the day our other guys have to keep performing too."

 

South Australia captain Graham Manou said he expected Younus to provide the "x factor" after a series of dismal performances by the state team in recent years.

 

South Australia began the new season with a one-day loss to Victoria last week followed by a draw in the Shield match against Victoria.

 

Younus, 30, has scored 4,816 runs in 58 Tests at an average of 49.14 with 15 centuries and has played 175 one-day internationals for Pakistan since 2000.

(Article: Copyright © 2008 AFP)