Mohammad Yousuf recalled by the Pakistan Cricket Board
Retirements are not often enduring in the constant flux of Pakistan cricket and this has been proven once again as the Pakistan Cricket Board has recalled Mohammad Yousuf after the team was humiliated at the hands of England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Recalling Mohammad Yousuf for the national team was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-Swift-c41334 reaction by the Pakistan Cricket Board after a massive 354-run defeat against the hosts which was Pakistan’s second biggest defeat in the history of Test cricket. Pakistan’s worst Test defeat came in 2004 when Australia thwarted them by 491 runs at Perth.
There were speculations that the veteran Test player Mohammad Yousuf would be recalled since http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 landed in England for its home series against Australia. It is a familiar reaction by the PCB off late. Pakistan’s 13th consecutive Test defeat against Australia at Lord’s had cajoled the same response of a Yousuf comeback. However, the win at Leeds had everyone praising the youngsters all over again.
Both Yousuf and Younis were banned indefinitely by the Pakistan Cricket Board on the request of an inquiry committee report which was set to investigate the reasons behind the devastating tour of Australia earlier this year. During the tour of Australia, Pakistan was overpowered by the hosts in all formats of the game. On the basis of the findings of an inquiry committee, some half a dozen players were handed bans and punishments. Both the former skippers, Yousuf and Younis, were handed indefinite bans for allegedly fuming infighting in the team.
Mohammad Yousuf announced his retirement in March as a protest to the indefinite ban. Various attempts were made by the PCB to make Yousuf rethink about his retirement before the tour of England, but the veteran remained adamant on his decision.
"I will not change my decision about the retirement. What happens in the future only God knows," the former Skipper had said earlier when asked by the board to reconsider his decision.
However, for the last few weeks, statements had been coming from the cricketer that he is ready to play for the national side and had no problems in playing under the captaincy of some junior players.
Chief Selector http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohsin-Hasan-Khan-c77595 said that Yousuf has been recalled after the tour management requested the selection committee to do so.
"We got a request from the tour management for Mohammad Yousuf and I then discussed with our selectors and we have confirmed it," Mohsin Khan told the media reporters.
Replying to a query about Yousuf’s form and practice, Mohsin said that the veteran Test player is fit and has been playing in the domestic circuit. Yousuf has not played international cricket since http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391 albeit has played in the local club tournaments.
Mohammad Yousuf, who will celebrate his 36th birthday this month, has played 88 Tests so far. He has logged 7,431 runs in the Test cricket at a tremendous average of 53.63 including 24 centuries and 32 fifties. Yousuf’s highest Test score is 223 runs that he scored against England at Lahore in December, 2005. In 2007, the veteran Test player was awarded with “International Cricket Council’s Test Player of the Year when he compiled 1,788 runs in a single calendar year in 2006. Yousuf’s record against England has also been impressive as the player has logged 716 runs at an average of 65.09 including a double century.
Yousuf also captained Pakistan in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 during the 2009/10 tour. His tour of Australia was the worst moment of his career where Pakistan lost all three Tests, five ODIs and a T20 match. While the disastrous first Test against England resulted in an immediate recall of Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan was once again overlooked by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
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