Fiery Younus cools down after PCB chief warning
37-year-old had earlier hit out at selectors a day before the squad was announced last week
PHOTO: AFP
A day after PCB chief Shaharyar Khan said Younus Khan may face action for lashing out against the board, it seems the veteran batsman has decided to pay heed to the chairman's warnings.
The 37-year-old had earlier hit out at selectors a day before the squad was announced last week —without his name included. He was further piqued over an event on Saturday to launch the logo for the new Twenty Pakistan Super League.
“If I am not selected the one-day team will not be able to stand up,” Younus had said in a television interview. Later, the PCB chairman hit out at the Younus for clearly being ‘frustrated’.
However, it seems Younus may have cooled down and decided to move on from the episode.
"I don't want to say anything now. I have said what I had to say. I said what was in my heart. I now just want to focus on the coming series against England," said Younus, as quoted by NDTV.
Earlier, the PCB chief had said that he respected Younus a lot and would discuss the issue with him.
“There are two actions, extreme or moderate, but we have to find a position in between. Something should be done.”
Read: Wasim advises Younis Khan to focus on Test cricket only
It is the third series in a row for which the selectors have overlooked Khan, who scored just 43 runs in three World Cup matches in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.
But he has been in fine Test form, rolling back the years to hit a sublime 171 not out as Pakistan chased an improbable 377 to beat Sri Lanka in Pallekele in July.
Read: Younus lashes out at PCB for no invitation to PSL
“I was not invited and that made it easy for me to decide whether to play the PSL or not,” he retorted on Saturday night.
But the PCB’s Khan said all players including Younus were invited.
“If we had not invited Younus and other greats I would have been apologising,” said Khan. “Younus saying he was not invited is factually not correct.”
Younus had been critical about the selectors and board for not being 'straight' with him and also hit out at former captain Wasim Akram for advising him to focus on Test cricket.
"He is also unhappy at the fact that it was indicated to him that he might have to lead Pakistan in the ODIs in Zimbabwe in the absence of Azhar Ali, who was scheduled to perform Hajj but then coach Waqar Younus insisted that Azhar make himself available for the matches in Zimbabwe after performing Haj with Asad Shafiq and Sarfaraz Ahmed, who are now part of the ODI squad," a source told Press Trust of India.
Chief selector Haroon Rasheed also backed the board that Younus was being treated justly.
"We have spoken to him during the national T20 championship in Rawalpindi and we asked him about his future plans he in turn questioned us what plans we had. But we told him we have not closed the doors of ODIs for him but will consider him only when there is a need in the team. The selectors are looking at the future and at the 2019 World Cup," Haroon said.
The 37-year-old had earlier hit out at selectors a day before the squad was announced last week —without his name included. He was further piqued over an event on Saturday to launch the logo for the new Twenty Pakistan Super League.
“If I am not selected the one-day team will not be able to stand up,” Younus had said in a television interview. Later, the PCB chairman hit out at the Younus for clearly being ‘frustrated’.
However, it seems Younus may have cooled down and decided to move on from the episode.
"I don't want to say anything now. I have said what I had to say. I said what was in my heart. I now just want to focus on the coming series against England," said Younus, as quoted by NDTV.
Earlier, the PCB chief had said that he respected Younus a lot and would discuss the issue with him.
“There are two actions, extreme or moderate, but we have to find a position in between. Something should be done.”
Read: Wasim advises Younis Khan to focus on Test cricket only
It is the third series in a row for which the selectors have overlooked Khan, who scored just 43 runs in three World Cup matches in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.
But he has been in fine Test form, rolling back the years to hit a sublime 171 not out as Pakistan chased an improbable 377 to beat Sri Lanka in Pallekele in July.
Read: Younus lashes out at PCB for no invitation to PSL
“I was not invited and that made it easy for me to decide whether to play the PSL or not,” he retorted on Saturday night.
But the PCB’s Khan said all players including Younus were invited.
“If we had not invited Younus and other greats I would have been apologising,” said Khan. “Younus saying he was not invited is factually not correct.”
Younus had been critical about the selectors and board for not being 'straight' with him and also hit out at former captain Wasim Akram for advising him to focus on Test cricket.
"He is also unhappy at the fact that it was indicated to him that he might have to lead Pakistan in the ODIs in Zimbabwe in the absence of Azhar Ali, who was scheduled to perform Hajj but then coach Waqar Younus insisted that Azhar make himself available for the matches in Zimbabwe after performing Haj with Asad Shafiq and Sarfaraz Ahmed, who are now part of the ODI squad," a source told Press Trust of India.
Chief selector Haroon Rasheed also backed the board that Younus was being treated justly.
"We have spoken to him during the national T20 championship in Rawalpindi and we asked him about his future plans he in turn questioned us what plans we had. But we told him we have not closed the doors of ODIs for him but will consider him only when there is a need in the team. The selectors are looking at the future and at the 2019 World Cup," Haroon said.