No need for Yousuf to appeal against ‘indefinite ban’: Ijaz Butt

KARACHI: Mohammad Yousuf got a huge breakthrough in his bid to make a return to the national team after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the former captain did not need to appeal against the ‘indefinite ban’.

The PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said that since Yousuf is ready to come out of retirement and has been cleared to play for Pakistan, there was no need for the batsman to acquire clearance to resume his career although a final decision is yet to be taken.

“There is no need for Yousuf to appeal against the indefinite ban. He has shown his availability and now we are considering him seriously,” Butt told The Express Tribune yesterday from Leeds.

Yousuf along with another former captain Younus Khan, was slapped with an ‘indefinite ban’ from representing Pakistan after an inquiry committee probed reasons for the win-less Australian tour, and announced his retirement shortly afterwards. While other players, who were handed one-year bans and fined, appealed against the PCB’s decision, Yousuf decided not to appeal.

“It’s very nice of him that he has shown his availability in the best interest of the team and which holds the most importance,” added the chairman.

Butt, however, said the star batsman is not certain to get a place in the national squad.

“Though we are considering him, we have not finalised anything about his inclusion in the team,” added Butt.

The chairman added that he along with the team management has undergone a couple of meetings on Yousuf’s inclusion and will take a final decision on it after the second and final Test against Australia that starts at Leeds today.

“Yousuf can only be a part of the Test series against England and any decision regarding it will come after the Leeds Test”, said Butt while adding that Yousuf’s fitness will also be reviewed since he has remained out of competitive cricket.

Legal perspective

The PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi defended the board’s move to exempt Muhammad Yousuf from appealing against his indefinite ban.

Rizvi said that Yousuf along with Younus Khan never received a ban rather the PCB decided not to include both players in the team for an indefinite period after recommendations of the inquiry committee formed to probe reasons of failure on Australia tour.

“There was no ban on Yousuf, the PCB only decided not to consider him for team selection after the inquiry committee report,” said Rizvi.

He explained that since the PCB kept the duo out of the national team, it can also select both the players without any legal hindrances.

“If the board wants to select Yousuf, there are no legal hindrances since the issue has been settled down,” said Rizvi.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2010.