Sachin Tendulkar finds a spot in Younis Khan's dream Test XI
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The recently retired Pakistan batsman Younis Khan named his dream team for the longest format of the game on Sunday and picked the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to start the proceedings for his team with the bat. The 39-year-old named Pakistan legend Imran Khan as the captain of the side.
On Sunday, Younis Khan announced his best-ever Test XI at a function held in his honor at Lord's. The former Pakistan skipper chose another Pakistani batsman, Hanif Ahmed to open alongside the cricketing maestro Sachin Tendulkar.
Younis picked South African Jaques Kallis and West Indian Brian Lara for the 3rd and 4th spot in the batting lineup. The 39-year-old's team middle order comprises of West Indian legends Vivian Richards and Garfield Sobers along with wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist and Pakistan's great all-rounder Imran Khan.
The Pakistani's dream team has a deep batting lineup with Richard Hadlee at number 9. Younis Khan picked Muttiah Muralidaran and Glen McGrath to spearhead his side's bowling.
The team was picked on the basis of the former Pakistan cricketer's encounters with the players. Muralidaran was a formidable opponent for Younis Khan as the Sri Lankan mystery spinner scalped his wicket ten times in the Test format while the other spinner who reached closest to that mark was Rangana Hearth with 8 wickets. Glen Mcgrath's swing bowling got the better of Khan five times throughout his Test career.
The non-inclusion of the great Shane Warne in the side is understandable given that the Australian legend managed to dismiss Khan only twice at the cost of 83 runs. On the other hand, the inclusion of Jaques Kallis can be attributed to his splendid record against the Pakistan team as Kallis scored 13 centuries against the side that featured Younis Khan and also bagged his wicket on four occasions.
Younis retired from international Test cricket earlier this month in grand fashion when Pakistan sealed their first ever Test series in the Carribean with a win in the final over of the fifth day in the decider.
Earlier in the series, Younis Khan achieved the feat of becoming the first Pakistan batsman to cross the 10,000 run mark in Test cricket and became the 13th overall player to do so. Younis scored 10099 runs in his career at an average of over 52 which included 34-centuries and 6 double-centuries.
Here is Younis Khan's Dream Test XI:
1. Hanif Mohammad
2. Sachin Tendulkar
3. Jacques Kallis
4. Brian Lara
5. Viv Richards
6. Garfield Sobers
7. Adam Gilchrist (wk)
8. Imran Khan (c)
9. Richard Hadlee
10. Muttiah Muralidaran
11. Glenn McGrath
