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Younis slammed for 'ridiculous' dismissal

Waqar Younis did not hold back in castigating veteran Pakistan batsman for gloving reverse sweep attempt on fourth evening

Pakistan legend Waqar Younis has slammed veteran batsman Younis Khan for his fourth-evening dismissal that opened the floodgates for Australia in the first Test.

After a golden duck in the first innings, Younis had played an assured and composed knock to notch up the 32nd Test match half-century of his esteemed career.

But with 65 on the board and Australia five and a half overs away from taking the new ball, Younis unfurled an attempt at a reverse sweep that left one of Pakistan's favourite sons less than impressed.

Younis gloved the ball, Steve Smith took one of the easiest catches he could imagine and the batsman walked off as Waqar fumed.

"That is ridiculous. That is so irresponsible," the former fast bowler said on Nine's Wide World of Sports.

"A man with so much experience, you don't need to do that.

"What was the need? Pakistan needed you to be out there and you've played a false shot.

"Yeah, he's got 65 but a very poor shot."

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The wicket left Pakistan at 5-173 with two new batsmen at the crease under lights to face the new pink Kookaburra.

Waqar continued his critique of the dismissal in the next over, highlighting how he believed the 39-year-old - playing in his 113th - Test had been rushed into the wicket by Nathan Lyon's pressure.

"I'm concerned about how Younis played," Waqar said.

"Two balls before, the ball had landed in the rough and spun sharply, the extra bounce was there.

"Then this … he was not in control at all.

"And I'm lost for words. Ridiculous."

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Younis's second-innings half-century had been a welcome and timely return to form for the Pakistani following a lean trot in the Test arena. Before notching 65, his previous six Test innings had been 0, 2, 1, 2, 11 and 0.

His first-innings duck, when he edged Josh Hazlewood behind, had prompted coach Mickey Arthur to concede there "was a little doubt in my mind" about the veteran's future.

But Arthur added Younis had his backing "for the time being".

"Younis Khan is just a complete professional, he really is," Arthur told ABC Grandstand on day three.

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"(But) I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a little doubt in my mind. But I had that doubt in England and I saw Younis come out and play exceptionally well, albeit against a different attack.

"So I'm backing him in for the time being."

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