Pakistan Cricket News: Weekly Updates
The Pakistan Cricket Board has taken another volte-face. In a statement on Friday, PCB declared that former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were never banned. Both the players can be called back to the Pakistan fold anytime in the future owing to the board’s discretion.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) further cleared Younis Khan’s come back towards international cricket by saying that he is free to play for Pakistan, notwithstanding the ongoing hearings of his appeal.
At the same time Yousuf, who has been adamant on his decision to retire from international cricket, has shown a green signal to Pakistan’s management saying that he can reconsider his decision if his elders ask him to do so.
Yousuf retired from international cricket, protesting the indefinite ban placed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board over internal strife in the team.
The legendry Imran khan has also admired Yusuf’s role in test cricket. "Pakistan needs someone who can stay at the wicket for longer and Yousuf has that quality," said Khan.
Former skipper Imran Khan has backed up Shahid Afridi. Imran Khan said that the all-rounder is the best available choice and should be given due time to prove his capabilities as a captain.
He said that frequent changes in team leadership have had a destabilizing effect and the selection committee should avoid it.
"Since I retired in 1992, Australia has had only three captains while Pakistan has had more than two dozen and that is why there is a big difference between Pakistan and Australia," Imran told the media.
Pakistan's current captaincy crisis started with the resignation of Younis Khan. Mohammad Yousuf was sacked which opened up the Pandora box. After being banned, Yousuf retired from international cricket. The PCB then selected Afridi to captain the team during the World T20 in the West Indies where Pakistan was eliminated in the semi-finals against Australia. Earlier this week, the selection committee decided to let him lead Pakistan in this summer’s Asia Cup followed by the tour to England.
After lifting the one-year ban, Shoaib Malik has been allowed by the Pakistan Cricket Board to play international cricket again.
Shoaib was suspended in March along with Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and former skippers Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf following Pakistan's disastrous tour of Australia, where they were whitewashed by the Kangaroos in all three formats of the game.
The inquiry committee had never clearly explained the allegation against the former captain. PCB has confirmed that Malik’s punishment has been overturned. The fine on Shoaib Malik has been reduced by half to one million Pakistani rupees.
There are signals that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Chief executive, Ijaz Butt may soon find himself thrown out of the post, as the PCB's Patron and President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, has given his sanction for a considerable overhaul of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
According to sources, Zardari has at last taken serious notice of the current controversies and complaints against Butt by the members of Senate Standing committees on Sports. It is expected that the patron may soon sack him.
One of the key points that go against Ijaz Butt is that he has consistently appointed his own relatives and friends on key posts in the board while disregarding the deserving candidates. His persistence on enduring with Yawar Saeed and appointing him as national team manager regardless of heavy criticism against him has also gone against Butt.
Some major alterations in the board are expected from the patron in the next week.
Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has offered his expertise as a batting consultant for the Pakistan’s upcoming tour of England that starts by the end of next month. The team will have the services of three coaches which include fielding coach Ijaz Ahmed, head coach Waqar Younis, and assistant coach Aaqib Javed. The board, in the past, has raised the option of including a batting consultant as well for the tours.
Miandad said that he has been contacted by the PCB for coaching the national team but since he does not have much time, he is available only for a shorter period.
On a positive note, the Sri Lankan team is once again ready to visit Pakistan. The Sri Lankan Ambassador to Pakistan on Friday claimed that the 2009 terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team have failed to break the cricketer’s confidence to come and play in Pakistan. He said that the Lankans are waiting for an invitation from the PCB for a bilateral series. The Ambassador said that cricketer’s have no issues for playing in Pakistan.
On the other hand, Chairman PCB, Ijaz Butt, has respected the idea by the Sri Lankan Ambassador. He said that currently, a Sri Lankan tour is not on the cards due to exhaustive ICC tours in the future, but whenever the window appears, the board would invite the SriLankans for a bilateral series.
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