Ever since Inzamam-ul Haq hung up his boots, much of the focus in Pakistan cricket has been on the two Ys - Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan. Sadly, despite the hype that surrounded the duo’s elevation to the status of Pakistan cricket’s new saviours, both Yousuf and Younis have failed to live up to the expectations.After a miserable outing at Ferozeshah Kotla, the second Test at Eden Gardens becomes a do-or-die situation where the outcome should sum up whether too much is being asked out of the much-celebrated two Ys.In the first Test, Yousuf managed 27 and 18, while Younis scored 7 and 23, and Pakistan’s batting line-up cut a sorry figure with an exception in the enterprising Misbah ul-Haq.Back at Eden Gardens after one and a half years, the duo couldn’t have asked for a better platform to prove their critics wrong. That’s because back in the summer of 2005, it is this same venue where Yousuf (he was Yousuf Youhana then) and Younis had scripted a memorable 211-run partnership for the third wicket to set up a cracker of a Test match.It is another story that the Pakistanis were simply blown away in that match by a bulldozing Anil Kumble, who took 7 for 63 on the last day to guide India to a 195-run victory.But Yousuf’s classy 104 and Younis’ crafty 147 — they batted almost throughout the third day — are still fresh in the memories of Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Sourav Ganguly, the three surviving members from the Indian bowlers of that March 2005 Test match.After the first Test drubbing, the two Ys of Pakistan cricket should draw inspiration from that epic double-ton partnership that nearly turned a match on its head. Inzamam is of course too big a batsman of his times for pundits to overnight zero in on Yousuf and Younis as the rightful replacements to fill up the void created by his absence. That is evident from the fact that despite averaging 94 and 58 respectively in the five-match ODI series, Yousuf and Younis have picked up more brickbats than kudos in the ongoing India tour.Forming the backbone of a touring side which is replete with players more on the sick-bay than eager to take to the field, Yousuf and Younis better relive their dominating act of the 2005 Test here at Eden Gardens, before it’s too late.
