KARACHI, Nov 30: Record-breaking Pakistan batsman Mohammed Yousuf on Thursday said the best thing about his world record for the most Test runs in a calendar year is that his country will be mentioned whenever people talk about the new landmark.
“I am happy this world record has Pakistan's name,” said Yousuf, who beat West Indian great Viv Richards' 30-year-old mark with his 124 on the fourth day in the third Test against the West Indies on Thursday.
“I would like to dedicate the record to my mother, my wife and my brothers who have been a great support and are very happy about my success,” said Yousuf, who rose from the slums of Lahore to make his Test debut in 1998.
Yousuf said his record was for his country.
“It is a great honour to create a world record. You play for your country, which is a great privilege, and to create history is a matter of great pride,” said Yousuf, who also set a new Pakistan mark for a three-Test series score of 665.
The 32-year-old right-handed batsman drove paceman Corey Collymore to the boundary to cross Richards' record tally and went on to set a new mark of 1,788 Test runs in 11 Tests.
He also scored his ninth century of the year, beating his own record of eight that he set on Monday in the first innings. One of the previous holders for the century record was Richards, again in 1976.
Yousuf also equalled Australian great Don Bradman's record of scoring six centuries in successive Tests - although it took him only five matches compared with Bradman's six.—AP
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