Discarded Yousuf eyes coaching future

Former Pakistan captain says he has lost interest in playing cricket.

KARACHI:

Mohammad Yousuf, unarguably one of the best Test batsman Pakistan has ever produced, hopes to serve the country in a coaching role as he distances himself as an active cricketer.

The 38-year old, who is out-of-favour for the national team since the UAE series against South Africa in 2010, made efforts to revive his international career but they bore no fruit.

Last year in April, Yousuf, who has scored 7,530 Test and 9,720 ODI runs for Pakistan, attended the training sessions at the National Cricket Academy soon after Dav Whatmore’s appointment but failed to convince the team management.

The former captain was also refused permission to play domestic tournaments by the board due to a late entry in this year’s season.

There was strong speculation yesterday suggesting that Yousuf had announced retirement from cricket but the veteran clarified it was not true.

“There is no question of announcing retirement now,” Yousuf told The Express Tribune when asked to confirm the reports. “I have not been playing since three years now. I have lost interest in playing cricket.”



The stylish batsman added that he had no harsh feelings towards the Pakistan Cricket Board or the selectors, who discarded him despite his illustrious performances for the team that included a Test world record of 1788 runs in a calendar year in 2006.

“Why would I be disappointed? I have not been playing domestic cricket regularly since three years. I have not given anything to authorities to assess my form or fitness on so there is no reason why I should be unhappy for being sidelined.”

Asked if he wished for a ceremonious exit from international cricket like his senior Inzamamul Haq, Yousuf said he had no such desire.

Yousuf eyes coaching role

However, Yousuf said he will not completely dissociate himself from cricket.

“If my experience will be required, I will happily pass it on to the youngsters. I will be available for national coaching duty anytime.”

He said he might be taking coaching courses in the future, which has become a prerequisite for the job nowadays.

“I will be travelling to England in the coming days and might take some courses there.”

‘Asad best batsman in current fold’

Meanwhile, Yousuf termed middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq as the best batsman in the current lot in terms of technique.

However, he lamented that the young batsman was not getting the chance he deserves.

“Asad was the best performer in the Test series against South Africa but he was dropped for the One-Day International series on the same tour,” he told Deutsche Welle.

“He should have been given consistent chances even if he flopped.”

To a query on the lack of quality batsmen in the current team, Yousuf said it was because sloggers had been preferred over batsmen with sound technique.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2013.