Ageing Mohammad Yousuf out to revive Pakistan career

Veteran Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf takes part in fitness test, insists he can still compete at highest level.


Afp April 24, 2012
Ageing Mohammad Yousuf out to revive Pakistan career

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.

______________________________________________

[poll id="730"]

COMMENTS (17)

Faraz | 12 years ago | Reply

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.

aceleaf | 12 years ago | Reply

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.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ