Want to help Pakistan at grass-root level: Yousuf

Former skipper believes return of int’l cricket means time is right to focus on youngsters

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Muhammad Yousuf has revealed his desire to help cricket at the grass-root level now that international cricket is on the brink of returning to the country.

“We have seen in the past that a lot of the promising players who perform in various age categories or at domestic tournaments, don’t perform that well when they are selected for the national cricket team,” Yousuf told The Express Tribune. “It’s because they aren’t taught the technicalities of the game at the highest level.”

Yousuf believes Pakistan has a lot of talent that can be nurtured and improved and feels duty-bound to help. “Pakistan has given me a lot of international fame, and now it is my time to give back to my country,” he said. “I have informed the authorities about my wish to work for Pakistan cricket at the grassroots level but I am ready to accept whatever role is assigned to me by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). My services are also available for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and its teams.”

Yousuf is confident the ICC World XI tour will pave way for international cricket to Pakistan. “It is the beginning of the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan and it is going to be a very important event after a long gap of almost nine years,” he said. “Once international cricket is revived, we will need good quality players for the national team.”

And the batting legend is looking forward to witnessing some quality cricket. “The wait is finally over and we will be seeing a high-profile cricket match in Lahore as the ICC World XI is a blend of the finest players chosen from seven cricket-playing nations,” he added.

Yousuf added that the PCB is doing all it can to bring back international cricket to Pakistan. “The PCB stood firm on its stance of having cricket in Pakistan and it pleaded the country’s case at all the international forums in a very professional manner. The ICC also supported its stance and finally decided to send a World XI to Pakistan,” he said.

The former right-hander was of the view that the return of international cricket will help revive interest in the sport once again.

“When I was young, I learned a lot of cricket by watching international players playing in Pakistan on different occasions. It was a great way to learn which eventually helped me become a quality cricketer,” he said. “Now this World XI series has given hope to young players and I am sure that in the coming years many quality cricketers will be produced.”

The matches against World XI are not the only ones the country has to look forward to though. “The next three months after the World XI are also very important for Pakistan cricket; Sri Lanka and West Indies will be visiting the country,” he said. “These are defining moments for Pakistan cricket and they will decide where the future of international cricket in Pakistan lies. Successful hosting of these events will mean international events can take place regularly in the future.”