The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser Talib Rizvi had earlier told The Express Tribune that the former captain was yet to be cleared by the chairman and he would be issued a fresh ban.
Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim said Younus was being punished for challenging his indefinite ban.
“I feel Younus has been victimised,” said Qasim. “He fought his case and was outspoken against the treatment and was dropped. It’s our batting which let us down, so we will definitely miss Younus, who is a big name when it comes to international cricket.”
Former captain Rashid Latif said that along with Younus, fast bowler Mohammad Sami and batsmen Faisal Iqbal and Khurram Manzoor also deserved a place in the squad.
“I respect the selection but four players - Younus, Sami, Iqbal and Manzoor - deserved places in the team,” said Latif.
Former batsman Basit Ali also slammed the exclusion of Younus and Sami from the tour to England.
“If it’s an injustice to Iqbal and Manzoor then it’s the height of injustice to Younus and Sami,” said Ali. “Younus is vital for Pakistan’s batting and he will be missed badly.”
Ali said Younus’ omission was “unacceptable” given that both captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis had said that they wanted him in the team.
“I think this team was selected by Ijaz Butt and manager Yawar Saeed, who want their say in the selection,” said Ali.
Pakistan also announced a 15-man squad for the Twenty20 matches on the tour of England, which opens with two Twenty20 matches against Australia on July 5 and 6 before two Tests against the same opponents, also in England. Pakistan then play four Tests, two Twenty20s and five One-Day Internationals against England on the tour which ends on September 22. The squad for the one-day games will be announced later.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2010.
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