Former Pakistani captain Younus Khan visited Bradford yesterday to urge the Asian community to support their tour of England.

They play Test matches against Australia at Lord’s and Headingley (July 21-25), as well as two Twenty20 internationals, and follow that with four Tests against England, plus five one-day internationals (including Headingley on September 12) and two Twenty20 internationals.

Khan, who has a world-class Test batting average of 50.09, said: “The time is now. The Asian fans should first of all support the best team but they should also support the Asian team.

“We are getting help from the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and Yorkshire County Cricket Club via the Cricket Mela but it is no good our fans just taking about coming to the matches. We need them to turn up.”

The 32-year-old added: “We are not able to play at home in our own conditions in front of our own crowds and we need support.

“But we have a good chance of doing well, though we need to score 400 – not just in one innings but in both innings.

“Then we have the spinners who can perform in Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal and the captain Shahid Afridi.

“And we also have pace in Umar Gul, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamer.”

Yorkshire holds happy memories for Khan.

He scored 173 in the Leeds Test of the 2006 series against Pakistan, and 106 and 202 not out for the White Rose against Hampshire in the County Championship at the Rose Bowl – the first Yorkshire player to score a hundred and a double hundred in the same match.

“It was good to play alongside Michael Vaughan, Jason Gillespie, Anthony McGrath and Jacques Rudolph, as well as the skipper Darren Gough,” said Khan.

“I had some good chats about cricket and captaincy with Michael Vaughan.”

Proud Pakistani Khan, whose indefinite ban for alleged breaches of discipline has been rescinded by the Pakistan Cricket Board, refused to be drawn on whether he would be called up for the current tour.

Phil Barker, Bradford Council’s assistant director of leisure services, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Younus to Bradford.

“We hope that many people will take the opportunity to buy tickets for the game and also support the activities of the Yorkshire Cricket Mela, a festival of cricket, culture and business in support of the Test match.”