Little to gain from Yousuf’s return
Having Yousuf in the ranks would mean that either Azhar Ali or Asad Shafiq would have to make way for the veteran. -File photo
The sudden emergence of 37-year-old Mohammad Yousuf on the Pakistan cricket scene may not come as a surprise to cricket fans in the country, they have seen quite a bit after all. The prolific batsman had announced his retirement from the game several times but there was nothing official about it.
But Yousuf ‘passing’ the fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore under the eagle eye of coach Dav Whatmore and actually being in the reckoning for a spot in the Sri Lanka bound squad (series starts in June), was least expected.
The development is puzzling not because of the fact that he last played international cricket in 2010 but more because Pakistan now seem to have a pretty stable lineup in tests, the only format Yousuf is likely to be considered for.
There is no need to dwell into stats to recognize his batting ability which made him one of the best produced from the country, but there is little doubt that he clearly is a ‘has been’.
Yousuf had been focusing on preaching and was hardly seen on a cricket ground in the last 10 months or so, he skipped the entire first class season and didn’t feature in either the national T20 or One Day tournaments.
His last appearance in a recognized match on the national circuit was in the inaugural edition of the super eight T20 in June.
Yousuf did impress those assessing his fitness in Lahore with his dribbles, sprints and his flexibility but the question remains, is he actually in shape to last the rigours of international cricket having last appeared in Pakistan colours some 17 months ago?
More importantly, one wonders where he would be slotted if he wins back his place? Test match format, ODIs or T20s?
Let us dwell on limited overs varieties first: If chosen for an ODI, Yousuf would probably bat at number four in the middle order sandwiched between Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.
Pakistan has already been struggling to make a move with the bat in the 50- over format, and Yousuf’s inclusion would make Umar Akmal the only genuine stroke maker in the batting line-up, sit out if all-rounder Hammad Azam is given a chance. His lethargic fielding and diving was clearly a source of entertainment for English commentators during the ill-fated tour in 2010, some two years later Yousuf is set to be even more pedestrian on the field.
He is simply not cut for T20 format at this age, even at his prime he was left out of Pakistan’s team in the 2007 and 2009 T20 World Championships. The master batsman has featured in only two international matches in the shortest format.
The only format Yousuf could find a place in is the test match format. He is currently the third highest run-scorer for Pakistan in this format. However, in his absence young guns Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have made a mark and very much cemented their places, at least for the Sri Lankan series.
With these young batsmen and Umar Akmal, Pakistan has won eight out of its last ten test matches, a staggering record to say the least.
Ali and Shafiq have emerged unscathed from a testing series against England and deserve some breathing space.
Having Yousuf in the ranks would mean that one of them would have to make way for the veteran.
Importantly though, the selection committee is not too keen on considering Yousuf. They see his emergence from the wilderness a unilateral decision by Whatmore, which needless to say has irked them greatly.
It remains to be seen whether Yousuf would make it to Sri Lanka, though there is clearly very little to gain from his return.
Let us hope that in the years to come we continue to celebrate the master batsman’s feats, rather than sulk on his uncalled for return.
Muhammad Yousaf is a world class batsman who have won many matches for pakistan. Still their is lot of cricket for him. He should be in Test or even in ODI. (He is standard is more than Younis and Misbah)
Very well written.
Yousaf was the best batsman, maybe is but, to play a person must be in form and rhythm. Yousuf should have played in domestic cricket to show his passion for cricket which he did not. He can still make a comeback if he plays the next season, until then we have to suffer watching mediocre players like Asad and Azhar.
If writer thinks that Azhar Ali and Asad Shfiq have done well in tests with averages of 38 and 37 respectively then hats off to his knowledge. Azhar has so far played in 21 tests and Asad in 13 but both have just one century each to their credit and Asad's century was against Banladesh, a team with the most dismal Test record ever. Umar Akmal's test record is even worse. Does the writer really think that Pakistan won its last eight tests because of Azhar, Asad and Akmal's batting? It was Pakistan's bowling that played the major role in those victories. Specially the spinners were outstanding, Saeed Ajmal in particular. All writers should do some research before writing such articles.
Yosuf should be given a chance to show his fitness and performance. Why not? When you can give chances to Shoaib Malik.
Also please understand that Yosuf is a far better batsman then Yonus and Misbah and he has a better scoring rate then the two. Fielding is of no concern to great players. How was the fielding of Imran Khan, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Zaheer, Inzamam, Shoaib Akhter, Murli, Warne etc..
Salman
i think, the standard for selection should not be age. if his performance is still good and he also offer his services to Pakistan cricket, then Pakistan cricket board official should not play with any one career.
many official of cricket team are afraid of senior cricketer like shahid afridi, yousaf and they are promoting junior player (although it is good to promote junior player, but PCB intention is not good behind this, they are promoting junior player in order to strengthen their supremacy , which is not good for Pakistan cricket).
we have seen such an example in recent past, when PCB official were close to mazhar majeed and other corrupt person, because these people were facilitating PCB official in foreign tour illegally.
While we waste a great like Yousaf , we keep bringing players of mediocre calibre and pakistan's batting continues to be brittle and totally unreliable.The team desperately nees a batsman of Yousaf's stature to provide stability.He has been a victim of PCB's flip flop policy.There are more half a dozen top class batsmen in world cricket who continue to play in the mid to late thirties(Tendulkar,Ponting,Hussey)….and we are bent upon wasting the talents of one the best batsmen of his generation.Admittedly he is not perfect for limited overs but for tests he would be great strength for the team.Pak batting needs to stand up because you can't just rely on Ajmal &co to save team ALWAYS.!!!!!!!!!
i completely agree…we keep bringing back imran farhat and shoib malik why not yousif!
Excellent choice he got nerves of steel and he still has 3~4 years of cricket in him. Why not is give him a chance we owe it to him based on his past performance.
Yousuf lacked physial fitness even at much younger age, now at 37 and without having played any first class cricket for long time, the talk of his making a come back is ridiclulous. Agree, he was a class batsmen but so were Miandad and Inzi, no one can last for ever. For god sake, lood to the future and on't look back. After winning test series against SL and England without him, why we need him now. Wonder whos brilliant idea was this. I'm glad Iqbal Qasim has asked him to prove match fitness by playing first class cricket before being onsidered.
Yousuf is great batsman and very useful inTest matches: He can be replaced by any Taufeeq Umar who is out of form. previous selection committe had a bis against him.
I think he should come back for 2 years in Test and ODI away from home (home i mean UAE ) .. I don't understand Younis Khan only plays in one inning in a series apart for them he just does some 20s … he is not consistant at all out where as Yousuf was always contributed away or home… and technique is awesome some thing learn for these new generation
Let him give him a chance to prove his ability once again and groom young talent around him, If he don't succeed see him off with respect and honour which he deserve.
MY should have been a playing coach in the team all along. While Tandulker and Chanderpaul are making headlines we are wasting out best batsman. It is a shame that MY was dropped while the thieves like Butt were rewarded. MY has always been a class in his own and a man of character.
Emaad Hameed can write an article assessing what format Yousuf is fit for before reading what Yousuf said, that he is only interested in playing Test Cricket.
Kudos to the Dawn sports editor. Good Job Sir. Now the highly respected and loved newspaper like Dawn is becoming trash as well.
There is no risk if A world class Batsmen is given a chance,,, he is experienced, classy and can help younger batsmen with his experience. He is better batsmen than Jayasuriya who was given a chance at the age of 42. Yousuf is 37 and if he has passed the fitness test and he thinks he can perform then why not to give him a chance……….He is world record holder and pride of Pakistan he wish should not be turned down before trying him one more time. He deserves