Younis is a rare kind in an age of PR-savvy, media-trained, brand-conscious and commercially minded cricketers © Associated Press

I met Younis Khan for the first time earlier this month. I had always wanted to meet him and, when I saw the Pakistan team at the ICC awards at the Sandton Sun in Johannesburg, I asked Osman Samiuddin, our Pakistan editor, to introduce us.

We shook hands, and then Younis gave me a hug. It was a natural, spontaneous and very subcontinental gesture. There was warmth in it and, if you wanted look for it, perhaps a message. In his simple and honest way, Younis has been trying to spread this message: make use of cricket as a positive force, for lifting spirits and for spreading goodwill; but treat it as a sport where, inevitably, there will be good days and bad.

We chatted briefly. Pakistan had beaten India a couple of days prior to that and Younis felt for MS Dhoni. The previous day, he said, he had been chased by a few members of the Indian television media seeking a quote or two damning the Indian captain. “Why are you after Dhoni,” he asked them, “winning and losing, it keeps on happening. Today, it is his turn, tomorrow it could be mine.”

It is easy to like Younis. His is a rare kind in an age of PR-savvy, media-trained, brand-conscious and commercially minded cricketers. He doesn't weigh his every word: he speaks what comes from within, and his earnestness is both refreshing and endearing. He wasn't wary of expressing his reservations about Twenty20 even when he was playing it, and he willingly walked away from it at a time ageing cricketers see it as a handsome retirement benefit.

His captaincy came up in the conversation. “You shouldn't walk away from it this time,” I said in jest. “No, no,” Younis said with utmost seriousness, “some good things are happening in our cricket. Kuchch karke jaana hai (I want to do achieve something before going.”)

Two days later, with the semi-final on the line, Grant Elliot lobbed the simplest of catches to Younis at short extra cover, and Younis, his broken little finger in a bandage, went at it gingerly and spilled it. Elliot went on to win the match for New Zealand and Younis was asked the inevitable question at the press conference: was he worried about what people were likely to say given Pakistan’s history?

Not at all, Younis said. It was only a few days ago that he had run out Gautam Gambhir with a direct hit with the same hand and he was a hero; today he had dropped a simple catch and he would be a villain. Such things he had learnt to take in his stride.

Perhaps he was being naïve, but then, honourable men have the right to expect better from the world.

	The SuperSport Park in Centurion - clearly, the prettier ground © Cricinfo Ltd

I was contemplating dialing a cab when I had a stroke of luck. A young South African journalist who had been assigned the Wanderers game was driving down to Centurion to watch the South African chase. I gratefully hitched a ride.

Centurion is around 40 kilometres from Johannesburg, and the drive takes 30-40 minutes. The highway is dotted with office buildings that belong to leading South African companies that have been moving away from Johannesburg's expensive, and increasingly decrepit, central business district. Locals say that it is easier to get to Centurion from many parts of Johannesburg than it is to the Wanderers, which is at one end of the city.

Continue reading "Lucky to be in Centurion"