He is Pakistan's biggest asset today

AT THE Kensington Oval in the recent series against the West Indies, he made the sign of the cross on completing his century. For that matter, it is a ritual that he performs every time he reaches a landmark.

He is a practising Christian. In fact, Yousuf Youhana is the only Christian in this side and the fourth (after W. Mathias, Duncan Sharpe and A. D'Souza) ever to have played for Pakistan. ``Without him I'm nothing. I believe in God,'' Youhana said after that knock.

Youhana's development since the time he made his debut, against South Africa at Durban in 1998, has been quite phenomenal and at such a pace that a few years from now he could well emerge a very big force in world cricket.For now, he is Pakistan's biggest asset in the middle order, the stabilising factor so to say, in a side so rich with talent. Javed Miandad's influence on the 25- year-old's batting style is quite evident. Uncomplicated technique, impeccable judgment, he is now beginning to show the rare ability of dictating length to a bowler.

And when he hit mediumpacer T. Kumaran for a straight six on the front foot off the last ball of the match to get to his century in the Asia Cup in Dhaka one was reminded of Miandad's heroics at Sharjah when he dispatched Chetan Sharma for a six off the last delivery to clinch the issue. Much like his mentor, Youhana, who hails from Lahore where he began playing on the streets of a Railway Colony with one of his four brothers, is quick to assess a situation and seems to know how exactly to go about it. His father, Youhana Masih was an employee of Pakistan Railways.

Youhana has said that Miandad's influence is about the best thing to have happened to his cricket ``Javed Bhai was my boyhood hero. I've idolised him. It is to him that I go for advice.'' Going by reports, Miandad had autographed the willow that Youhana used, to make the 115 at Bridgetown and guide Pakistan to 253 after having been 37 for five at one stage.

In fact, it was Miandad who taught him the intricacies of length- adjustment in order to dictate length. As is known, the hallmark of a great batsman is the ability to put away good deliveries.

A look at Youhana's career figures will tell you that he has been consistent. He has three centuries and 10 half centuries in 21 Tests (38 innings, avg. 37.22) and this boils down to a knock of 50-plus in his every third outing.

Two of his three centuries came in the recent tour of the West Indies. He followed the ton at Bridgetown with knocks of 103 (not out) and 42 at Antigua, only to see Jimmy Adams swing the series West Indies' way.

Looking back at his career, which blossomed with every outing, Youhana made half centuries in each innings in the Bulawayo Test against Zimbabwe in what was his second series. But the home series against Mark Taylor's Australia was quite an experience. Youhana fell to leg-spinner MacGill twice in that series, watched Taylor stroke a record 334 not out at Peshawar, and Australia clinch a historic series win in Pakistan soil in 39 years. Youhana's maiden Test century came in his city of Lahore against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe won its first Test on foreign soil in that series and clinched the three-Test series 1-0. Later, he had two fair outings in the away series against India where he made half centuries in Chennai and Calcutta (Asian championship). Pakistan won both the Tests.Youhana made 95 and 75 in the Brisbane Test, but the tour of Australia by and large was a disaster for Pakistan, as much as it was for India. One thing emerged clear though, which was confirmed on the tour of the West Indies, was that searing pace does not trouble Youhana.

For him the switch from Test cricket to limited overs comes easily. He has been moved up the order, to the crucial No. 3 position, in one-day internationals and has been doing well. One with sound defence as well as all-around stroke production, Youhana is able to adjust to situations.

He maintains a high level of fitness, and much like his mentor converts ones into twos and threes. We saw all these aspects in the Asia Cup in Dhaka, where he emerged the man of the series. A 40-plus average in limited overs cricket, with three centuries and 14 half centuries, goes to say that he is equally adept at both forms of the game. His phenomenal abilities transcend the limited requirements of the limited overs game. His transformation has come about the right time for Pakistan.

SANJAY RAJAN

Chennai

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