Younis clarifies retirement comments

Pakistan legend Younis Khan has moved to clarify comments that he would consider delaying his retirement from Test cricket at the conclusion of the current series against the West indies.

Just a day after suggesting he might stay on with the team if requested to do so by the Pakistan Cricket Board, Younis has confirmed the decision "is final".

"There is a lot of speculation that perhaps I am taking back my decision to retire from Test cricket. There is no truth to this," Younis said in a self-filmed video clip posted by Geo News.

"My decision to retire from Test cricket is final.

"I will not take back my retirement even if I score a century in every innings during the West Indies series."

Younis had told cricket.com.au that he would consider delaying his retirement if Pakistan needed him to play on.

"Yeah, I will think about it," Younis said in response to a question of would he consider playing on. "It all depends on if my team needs me.

"If they request me or people want me then why not? But it all depends on my team."

The 39-year-old is just 23 runs short of becoming the first Pakistani to score 10,000 Test runs in a 17-year career.

"I could have played more," Younis told cricket.com.au in the same interview.

"But I think the right time to retire is when people want you to stay, not when they are thinking your time is up. So I think it is a good time for me retire." 

Pakistan's Test side faces the double blow of Younis and captain Misbah-ul-Haq both exiting the team at the same time. Misbah has also confirmed he will retire at the end of this series.

In his latest blog for cricket.com.au, Misbah had urged Younis to play on "for another year or two"

"My personal feeling is that Pakistan still need Younis Khan and he can play for another year or two, but I'm not sure if others agree with me or not," Misbah wrote. 

Misbah's column: The end begins for Younis and I

"I talked to him about it in Australia and told him that 'you can play on'. Even though we have some very good youngsters in the team, the gap left by Younis' absence will be difficult to fill.

"The Pakistan team will not just miss him as a batsman, they'll also miss him as a mentor.

"He has been a terrific role model for everyone and it will be very tough to replace him.

"Every member of this team, including myself, has learnt a lot from him. He has changed our dressing room culture. If one wants to be successful in professional life, one only needs to regard Younis Khan's organised and punctual lifestyle from breakfast to bed."