Mohammad Yousuf set for last-minute dash to England
Mohammad Yousuf is expected to arrive in England less than 24 hours before Pakistan begin the second Test of the series against Andrew Strauss’ side.
The former captain’s arrival in England had reportedly been delayed as he waited to obtain the correct visa to enter the UK but a Pakistan spokesperson has today told reporters at Edgbaston that: “He has the visa. The administrative delay has been overcome."
The question now is whether Yousuf’s last-minute arrival will rule him out of the Edgbaston Test as Pakistan seek to bounce back from a 354-run thumping by their hosts at Trent Bridge in the series opener.
It was in the wake of that loss that Pakistan turned to the experienced Yousuf, who had earlier this year been handed an indefinite ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board before announcing his international retirement during http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391.
Neither decision has stuck for long and as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s novice batsmen failed to stand up against a potent England pace attack in their first Test of the summer against England, the 35-year-old has suddenly found himself back in the mix for Test selection.
It’s a move that has made England sit up and take notice as they seek to establish a 2-0 lead in the series, with what will likely be an unchanged XI from the one that did the damage in Nottingham.
"We don't focus too much on what the opposition are doing but obviously when a player of Yousuf's ability comes into their team you have to sit back and say, 'how are we going to attack this player?', 'how are we going to nullify that threat?',” off-spinner Graeme Swann told reporters today.
However, with less than a day to prepare for the Edgbaston Test once he lands in England, and having played no international cricket since overseeing Pakistan’s winless and divisive tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, whether England will have to take Yousuf into consideration in their next match against Salman Butt’s side still remains to be seen.
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