“Younis Khan once held a knife at my throat,” reveals former Pak batting coach Grant Flower

Grant Flower was Pakistan's batting coach from 2014 to 2019.

Younis Khan is perhaps one of the greatest batsmen produced by Pakistan and the only one from the country to make 10,000 Test runs. However, if the words of former batting coach Grant Flower are to be believed, the ever-smiling Khan also had quite a temper.

The 49-year-old Zimbabwean, who was Pakistan's batting coach from 2014 to 2019, recalled an incident in Australia with Younis while conversing with brother Andy and host Neil Manthorp on the 'Following On Cricket Podcast'.

The incident happened during the opening Test of Pakistan's tour of Australia in 2016 at Brisbane where Younis had scored a duck in the first innings but managed a 65 in the second essay. He had ended the tour with a fine 175 not out in the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2017. Pakistan had lost the three-Test series 3-0.

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"Younis Khan… quite tough to master. I remember one incident in Brisbane, during the Test, at breakfast, I tried to give him a bit of batting advice ... But he didn't take kindly to my advice and brought a knife to my throat, with Mickey Arthur sitting alongside, who had to intervene,” Grant said.

Grant Flower is currently serving as the batting coach of the Sri Lankan team.

"Yeah, it's been interesting. But that's part of coaching. It makes it a hell of a journey, and I've really enjoyed it. I've still got a lot to learn, but I'm very fortunate to be in the position I am," Flower said.

Flower also singled out Ahmed Shehzad as another interesting character in the Pakistan team. "He's a very skillful batter, but quite rebellious. Every team has got its rebel. Sometimes it makes them better players, sometimes maybe not so," said Flower.

(PTI inputs)