LAHORE, Aug 25: Middle-order batsman Younis Khan on Saturday signed the central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), a spokesman of the board confirmed to Dawn.

Younis becomes the 17th player to have signed the central contract, which the PCB had offered to some 20 players. Prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf and seasoned all-rounder Abdul Razzaq did not sign the contract to mark their protest over exclusion from the Twenty20 World Chamionship squad.

Earlier, talking to newsmen at the end of the day's training in the national camp on Saturday, Younis said joining ICL was an individual decision of a player.

Asked about the offers made to him by the ICL, Younis said he would only join the breakaway league if he experiences real financial crisis.

The Pakistan team will be leaving for Kenya on Aug 28 on their way to South Africa. In Kenya Pakistan will be playing a warm-up tournament from Sept 1-4 which also involves Bangladesh, UAE and hosts Kenya.

Younis said the chances of Pakistan and Indian teams to win the Twenty20 World Championship were bright as both teams had the potential to excel in this form of the game.