Pakistan-New Zealand series: Mohammad Yousuf disappointed at being ignored
Pakistan’s former skipper and veteran middle-order batsman, Mohammad Yousuf has expressed disappointment at being overlooked for the five-match One Day International series against New Zealand which gets underway in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864 on 22 January,
2011.
“I don't know what is the criteria of the selectors for selecting someone. I am in form and I am fit, what more can I do to convince them I should play for Pakistan,” Yousuf said.
Yousuf, who is in Karachi these days to play for Lahore in the domestic ODI championship, was ignored by the selectors for the series against the Black Caps. The five-match ODI series would be Pakistan’s last outing ahead of the ICC World
Cup that gets underway in the subcontinent from 19 February, 2011.
The 36-year-old middle order batsman, who holds an impressive batting average of 52.39 in the Test cricket, was not included in the Test or Twenty20 squad of Pakistan for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 tour.
However, since he was selected in the 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup, it was expected that Yousuf would be called in for the ODI series against the Kiwis. But the selectors had their own plans where the controversial wicketkeeper
batsman, Kamran Akmal was called back for the ODI series.
It has been reported that the selectors have doubts over the form and fitness of the 36-year-old for a high-profile tournament like the World Cup.
Yousuf, however, has opined that he is completely fit to play in any form of cricket.
“I had some problem with a strained muscle while touring UAE for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 series but now I have made a complete recovery,” said the veteran. “An unfit batsman cannot take three and two runs regularly during his innings,” he added
after scoring 63 runs for Lahore on Sunday.
Yousuf said that at times he gets upset at the treatment being meted out to him by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board and selection committee.
The seasoned campaigner, who has played 288 ODIs and 90 Tests in his 12-year-long international career, said that winning a World Cup for his team has been his dream.
He further added that if given a chance to play in the upcoming quadrennial tournament, he will give his absolute best to the side but will think seriously about retiring from international cricket if he was not selected.
Tags: