Mohammad Yousuf adamant on his retirement decision
The Pakistan Cricket Board has taken a u-turn on a very busy intersection. In a statement on Friday, the PCB declared that it has never banned former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. Both the players can be brought back to the Pakistan cricket team anytime.
PCB Legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi denied the life ban on both the players.
“It is a wrong impression that the inquiry committee had placed a life ban on both players. There was no ban, we had recommended that they not be selected for the national team for the time being and be monitored,” he said,” said the legal advisor.
He added that Ijaz Butt, Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, had the authority to restore Younis in the team whenever he wanted to.
Butt, enjoying the eminent powers as the chief executive and chairman of the board, said that both the skippers were not banned for a definite period if compared to Shoaib Malik and Rana Navedul Hasan, so they can be included to the national team anytime the PCB wants them to.
Yousaf announced his retirement from International cricket following the ban placed by the PCB after Pakistan's disastrous tour of Australia. A total seven players were punished with fines and bans. All the six players, except Yousaf, filed formal appeals against the imposed punishments. He was the only one not to file an appeal. Rather he decided to retire from the international cricket and is adamant on his decision.
Yousaf was requested to reconsider his decision of retirement for Pakistan's forthcoming England tour but he turned down the offer.
"I will not change my decision about the retirement. What happens in the future only God knows," said the former skipper of the Pakistan cricket team.
He said that he is very disappointed by the behaviour of the PCB. He said that he did not deserve that ban as he has always given his best for the betterment of the Pakistan cricket team.
The newly-appointed captain for upcoming Asia Cup and the England tour, Shahid Afridi, has boosted efforts to convince Yousaf to reconsider his decision and come out of retirement. His comeback will bolster the team’s moral for the tough assignment in England, where they will face off against the Australia followed by the hosts.
Yousaf confirmed that the young skipper has been in negotiations with him. Afridi on the other hand said that Yousaf had decided to retire after seeking advice from his elders and will only reconsider his decision if the elders allowed him to do so.
Since embracing Islam, Yousaf has got some religious elders whom he met during his trips to Raiwind and on preaching missions. He always discusses matters of importance with them before taking any step.
Afridi said that Pakistan needs Yousaf’s services during the English tour. Afridi further explain his stance by accepting that he has talked to Yousaf’s elders as well, who can influence him, and has asked them to convince him for the sake of Pakistan. He added that he is confident that the elders will make Yousaf change his mind.
The English tour kicks off in end-June, and the newly appointed skipper Shahid Afridi is confident that if Yousaf is included in the team at the last moment, even then, there is sufficient time for Yousaf to practice for the tour.
"Yousaf is a great batsman and I'm sure that even if he just plays in a couple of warm-up matches before the Test series, he will be ready for the tough assignment. He won't need much time to get ready for the tour."
On Tuesday, Pakistan announced its preliminary 35-man squad for the next month Asia Cup and England tour for its home series against Australia and England from July to September.
Banned former skippers Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik also won a place in the preliminary squad. Five of the penalized players, including former captains Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan along with controversial pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar were picked. However, Mohammad Yousaf was not considered in the probable’s list which somehow proves the biasness that is being shown towards the greatest middle-order batsman that Pakistan has produced.
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