Younus to be included in the Test squad despite outburst
Zulfiqar, Hafeez also in line to return for the Tests
KARACHI:
The national selection committee is keen on including senior batsman Younus Khan in the Test squad to take on Australia in the two-Test series, despite his recent outburst against them and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Younus was angered at being dropped from the ODI squad for the Australia series and felt that he was not afforded a proper chance to make his comeback into limited-overs cricket.
Younus was only able to play a single ODI against Sri Lanka before being forced to fly back due to the death of his nephew. His feelings were further hurt by chief selector Moin Khan, who stated that although the doors of ODI cricket are not closed on Younus, he is not in the selectors’ plans for the 2015 World Cup.
The comments prompted the World Twenty20 winning captain to lament those suggestions publicly. Younus even went on to say that he should not be selected for the Test squad as well if the selectors feel that youngsters are the way to go for Pakistan, saying that he will suddenly not become a 70-year-old come the World Cup next year.
“Younus is our premier batsman and he’ll be selected for the Test series,” one of the selectors told The Express Tribune. “Whatever happened is history, and we need to move forward now. It’s an important series against Australia and Younus will be key to Pakistan’s chances in the two Tests.”
Having played 91 Tests so far, the 36-year-old is closing in on the 100-Test landmark. He has so far scored 7610 Test runs at an impressive average of 51.14, with 24 centuries and 28 half-centuries to his name.
“It shouldn’t be about personal egos and we should all think about Pakistan and move on,” the official added. “It’s important that common sense prevails and Younus does not turn down the chance of playing in Tests as well.”
Meanwhile, selectors are also pondering over the inclusion of Zulfiqar Babar in the Test squad ahead of Abdur Rehman, who has recently been below par, while leg-spinner Yasir Shah is also in line for a call-up.
Opener Khurram Manzoor will face the axe as well if Muhammad Hafeez recovers from the injury that has sidelined him for the ODI series as the selectors want to utilise Hafeez as an all-rounder to make up for the void left by the suspended Saeed Ajmal.
The national selection committee is keen on including senior batsman Younus Khan in the Test squad to take on Australia in the two-Test series, despite his recent outburst against them and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Younus was angered at being dropped from the ODI squad for the Australia series and felt that he was not afforded a proper chance to make his comeback into limited-overs cricket.
Younus was only able to play a single ODI against Sri Lanka before being forced to fly back due to the death of his nephew. His feelings were further hurt by chief selector Moin Khan, who stated that although the doors of ODI cricket are not closed on Younus, he is not in the selectors’ plans for the 2015 World Cup.
The comments prompted the World Twenty20 winning captain to lament those suggestions publicly. Younus even went on to say that he should not be selected for the Test squad as well if the selectors feel that youngsters are the way to go for Pakistan, saying that he will suddenly not become a 70-year-old come the World Cup next year.
“Younus is our premier batsman and he’ll be selected for the Test series,” one of the selectors told The Express Tribune. “Whatever happened is history, and we need to move forward now. It’s an important series against Australia and Younus will be key to Pakistan’s chances in the two Tests.”
Having played 91 Tests so far, the 36-year-old is closing in on the 100-Test landmark. He has so far scored 7610 Test runs at an impressive average of 51.14, with 24 centuries and 28 half-centuries to his name.
“It shouldn’t be about personal egos and we should all think about Pakistan and move on,” the official added. “It’s important that common sense prevails and Younus does not turn down the chance of playing in Tests as well.”
Meanwhile, selectors are also pondering over the inclusion of Zulfiqar Babar in the Test squad ahead of Abdur Rehman, who has recently been below par, while leg-spinner Yasir Shah is also in line for a call-up.
Opener Khurram Manzoor will face the axe as well if Muhammad Hafeez recovers from the injury that has sidelined him for the ODI series as the selectors want to utilise Hafeez as an all-rounder to make up for the void left by the suspended Saeed Ajmal.