From rags to rich vein of faith-filled form for Pakistan's Yousuf by CricketArchive staff reporter

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Scorecard:	Pakistan v West Indies
Player:	Mohammad Yousuf
Event:	West Indies in Pakistan 2006/07

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DateLine: 1st December 2006

 

Mohammad Yousuf has often attributed his record-breaking run of form to his conversion from Christianity to Islam - but cricket purists believe the Pakistani batsman was world class from the start. The stylish right-hander's century in Pakistan's second innings in the third Test against the West Indies took him past West Indian Viv Richards' landmark of 1,710 runs in a year, achieved back in 1976. He also surpassed his own, three-day-old record for the most hundreds in a year with his ninth century of 2006, having scored 102 in the first innings of the ongoing Test. And Yousuf also set a new Pakistan record for most runs in a three-match Test series, erasing the old mark of 583 runs set by former great Zaheer Abbas against India in 1978. Yousuf came from a poor background in the slums of the eastern city of Lahore and was plucked from a tailor's shop to play in a local match in the mid-1990s. Since then his well-crafted shots have put him among the greats of modern cricket. Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer is one man who witnessed both Richards and Yousuf breaking the same record. "I played against Viv in that 1976 series and have coached Yousuf now. It is an amazing feat to beat Viv's record and Yousuf has been phenomenal," said Woolmer, who played 19 Tests for England in the 1970s. "Both Yousuf and Richards had different styles. Richards was aggressive, Yousuf is cool and sedate. It is amazing, and you need to be at your peak and consistent to beat the record of most runs in a year," said Woolmer. Former Pakistan great Hanif Mohammad believed Yousuf had matured as a batsman since converting to Islam. "His maturity is a gift from almighty Allah. I have seen him before and have seen him since his conversion to Islam - there sure exists a difference," said Mohammad. Statistics appear to bear this out. Yousuf, formerly Yousuf Youhana, averaged around 48 in his first 59 Tests. Since his conversion his batting average has risen to 92. Yousuf said the change of faith had played a major role in his success. Since converting he has grown a bushy beard and also bows in the middle of the pitch to give thanks after he scores a century. "I am more disciplined in all walks of life. Offering prayers five times a day makes you disciplined and you take this discipline on the field as well," he said after his double hundred at Lord's in July this year. He scored 192 at Leeds followed by 128 in the forfeited Oval Test to accumulate 631 runs on the England tour - a performance which is sure to get him a place in Wisden's five best cricketers of the year, to be announced early next year. Prior to the tour of England, Yousuf had scored 461 runs in three Tests against old rivals India. Then he managed 31 in the only Test against Sri Lanka. He hit a match-winning 192 in Pakistan's nine-wicket win in the first Test in Lahore, then a match-saving 191 in the second at Multan, followed by 102 in the first innings at Karachi. Former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said Yousuf was "mentally so calm and peaceful that he seems to be in a trance". "It doesn't matter that he scored the runs on flat pitches, the record itself is a great achievement," said Manjrekar, who is in Karachi as a television commentator.