LAHORE: Veteran Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf took part in a fitness test on Tuesday to try to revive his international career, insisting he could still compete at the highest level.
The 37-year-old played the last of his 90 Tests against England at Lord's in 2010 - a match marred by the spot-fixing scandal involving three of his teammates.
He has not been considered for selection in the last two years because he has not played in domestic matches in Pakistan, but he took part in a workout led by new coach Dav Whatmore on Tuesday.
"I have given a fitness test and now the result is in the hands of PCB," Yousuf told reporters outside the national academy here. "I am ready to play for my country and still have enough cricket left in me."
Yousuf rose from a poor background to become one of the most stylish batsmen Pakistan had ever produced, smashing 1,788 Test runs in 2006 - a world record for a calendar year.
His career drifted after the PCB banned him for an indefinite period in March 2010 following the disastrous tour of Australia, which he captained.
The ban was overturned to allow Yousuf a comeback on the 2010 England tour, during which Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were charged and eventually jailed for arranging deliberate no-balls for money.
Yousuf, who has played 288 one-day and three Twenty20 internationals, said he has been playing regular cricket and wanted to feature in the English county championship, though a deal with Leicestershire fell through.
Whatmore said the fitness of all Pakistani players will be assessed before next month's tour to Sri Lanka.
"The fitness test was designed to give everyone an idea where they stand now and after a prescription of work to re-test and see the improvement," he said.
Pakistan play two Twenty20s, five one-day internationals and three Tests on their tour of Sri Lanka from late May to mid-July.
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COMMENTS (17)
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All Pakistanis who want him back, why not get Saeed Anwar, Inzamam et cetera back in the team as well? They are only a few years older then Yousuf. Yousuf is OK, but when I see people wanting to see Kamran Akmal back in the team ...makes me want to never watch cricket ever again :D.
Yousef was a good player. His time is already over. In order to start int cricket. As an appeasement policy for terrorists he can be used. As in the past, players got selection on the basis of sect/group affiliations. As a matter of fact Pakistani mothers have not stopped producing talented players. Tell your selectors to find one for them. Bottomline is to look into future not in the past.
He is a legend and possess better skills than Tendulkar and Ponting. He is younger to Tendulkar and about the same age of Ponting, therefore age should not be a factor to decline his services. Whatmore is also considering inclusion of Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal, which is not a good move. Both players are unpredictable and undesirable. Even Afridi is better than them. We know, he is very predictable as he will never score more than twenty runs.
I for one would love to see Yusuf play again. Why are people so ageist? If he can prove his fitness then why not. I think with his experience it will be a bonus to play him.
Muhammad Yousaf should be in the National cricket team of Pakistan. He is one of the best batsmen in the world. Pakistan needs him. He can be a strength to Pakistani batting line. New players will have courage that they have much experienced batsman in them. Muhammad Yousaf should be in Pakistan cricket team without any delay.
M. Yousaf is a class player and he deserve to be a part of playing 11. And in my opinion he is hundred time better player than misbah and azhar ali.
he WAS a legend ... is there NO ONE in entire Pakistan to start his cricket career ?
Give him a farewell tour of Sri Lanka. He deserve a gallant farewell.
One of the best batsman ever.
We should have never dropped him in the first place .. He is one of the rare classic batsmen Pakistan has produced. IMO these were the top ODI batsmen for Pakistan.
Mohammad Yusuf - 42.08 Ave Javed Miandad - 41.70 Ave Inzamam-ul-Haq - 39.53 Ave Saeed Anwar - 39.21 Ave Misbah-ul-Haq - 42.50 Zaheer Abbas - 47.62
in current lot there are a few young batsmen with good averages but they have played very few ODI matches yet,
Nasir Jamshed - 39 Ave Umer Akmal - 38.12 Fawad Aalam - 37.68 Yasir Hameed - 36.87
MY should have been a playing coach in the Pakistani team.
Best of luck for M. Yousaf. He is great player in the cricket history of Pakistan. Pakistan ever produced such kind of player.
If the Pakistani team does not get new blood, it will never reach the highest level. The older players should realize this and give chance to the youngsters. It it's entirely selfish to be trying to find a spot at the age of 37. You've had your chance man let the others have their's.
He is a legend. One of the most beautiful stylish players in Pakistani history. One of the best timer & placers of the ball.
Yes, we need his experience in both ODI and Test. He is a classic player and he deserves to be a part Pakistan Team.
Mohammad Yousuf has been a legand for Pakistan and will always be remmembered for his stylish batting style and composure. He can be given a chance in the test format but I doubt that would do any good for the team since we need to plan for the long term and adding a 37 year old after an absence of 1 1/2 is not an ideal choice.