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KARACHI: Pakistan on Sunday omitted out-of-form Younis Khan from a 30-man initial squad for the eight-nation Champions Trophy after the middle order batsman flopped in recent one-day matches.
The 35-year-old Younis managed just 116 runs in the series against South Africa earlier this month which Pakistan lost 3-2 and has not managed to score a century since November 2008.
Pakistan is in group B of the event to be held in England from June 3-23. The other teams in their group are arch-rivals India, the West Indies and South Africa.
Defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England form group A.
All teams had April 6 as the cut off date to announce their initial squad to be trimmed to 15 in May.
Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said the Pakistani squad was a “mix of youth and experience”.
“Younis's name was not considered after he did not show the form in the last few matches,” he told AFP.
Pakistani media reported last week that Younis was contemplating retirement from one-day cricket after giving up Twenty20 following the team's 2009 World Twenty20 victory in England under his captaincy.
But sources close to Younis denied he was retiring from one-day cricket. He was also dropped from the team for a series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates last August before he regained his place against India in December.
Younis has so far scored 7014 runs in 253 one-day internationals after making his debut 13 years ago.
Also overlooked was allrounder Abdul Razzaq, who hasn't played a one-day since November 2011.
Pakistan face the West Indies in their opening match on June 7 before clashing with South Africa (June 10) and arch-rivals India on June 15.
Probables: Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Ahmed Shehzad, Misbah-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin, Sohail Tanvir, Hammad Azam, Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Asad Ali, Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Imran Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Yasir Arafat, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Zulfiqar Babar, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan.
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Comments (43) Closed
Mar 31, 2013 06:45pm
The Problem is Iqbal Qasim!
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Mar 31, 2013 07:06pm
OMG the mindless crackpot again.
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Mar 31, 2013 07:40pm
Dropping of Younis means nothing, when already, he was recalled from his retirement. PCB is again going, as usual, on a wrong path, by keeping faith with oldies who are absolutely spent cartridges. Players like Misbah, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Imran Farhat and Shoaib Malik are not even fit for the Test matches; and PCB has selected them for the ODI Champions trophy. This is a highly retrogressive step, of wasting the future of young cricketers, for such a long time. When the ODI World Cup will begin in 2015, these oldies, by that time will be reduced to nothingness; and youngsters will be highly short of few years experience.
It looks the PCB people incharge of its helm of affairs, can't see beyond their nose. They must realise that if these spent forces can't give us reasonable stability, why to be afraid of losing with youngsters? At least six new players in place of the above named ones, will be a sound investment in future.
Come on PCB have a heart and have some faith in youth.
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Mar 31, 2013 08:01pm
The track record of Younis Khan is far better than Misbah, then why select Misbah and drop Younis Khan, Misbah and Cheema are very average players their selection indicates that the Selection Committee is not serious about selecting a team to win any major tournament, therefore, the performance of Selection Committee should be reviewed critically and it should be reconstituted.
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Mar 31, 2013 08:19pm
The problem is that our players don't understand when the time is right. He is 34 and scored his las century in 2008!!!
He should play another 3 years of Test cricket and then retire gracefully.
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Mar 31, 2013 08:19pm
Misbah, Malik, & Malik Brothers needed to be dropped as well for sure.
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Mar 31, 2013 10:20pm
Iqbal Qasim still wants to include Shahid Afiridi in the team ???? what a joke
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Mar 31, 2013 10:23pm
problem is pakistan system mentality if you dont change this nothing will change
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Mar 31, 2013 10:27pm
misbah is not game winner he need to retire and give young tallent a chance
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Mar 31, 2013 10:34pm
What about the Tennis player Shoaib Malik and WWW (Worlds Worst Wicket) Keeper my dear Mr Qasim?
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Mar 31, 2013 11:06pm
Why not Abdul Razzaq he is better then most of the players like Sohail Tanvir and some others.Razzaq is a good all rounder he should be included.
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Mar 31, 2013 11:59pm
no abdul razzaq what a same pakistan !
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Apr 01, 2013 01:23am
please do pakistan favor and drop shahid afridi. its better rehman plays in his place.
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Apr 01, 2013 01:39am
Move is in right direction.
-Pakistan needs couple of mature middle order batsman.
-We also need worldclass allrounder to replace ShoaibMAlik/ShahidAfride.
-Search for a good TEST/ODI Wicketkeeper/batsman also required. Kamran Akmal only good for T20. -Time to groom Umar Akmal. Send him at # 1, # 2 or # 3 in ODI/TEST, and play him there for at least one year. He is the best talent and deserves place in higher order.
-Right arm fast Ehsan Adil should be part of ODI/TEST team. Omar Gul looks ordinary.
-Mohamad Irfan proved himself and should be part of ODI squad.
-Misbah should lead the team until next odi worldcup, after that needs his replacement also.
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Apr 01, 2013 02:24am
Iam sorry but this is laughable why just drop one player it will not make any difference until PCB let go of Malik, Kami and Afridi and why on earth is not Abdul Razaq in the squad he got very good county experience in ODI'S to me it just don't make any sense and iqbal Qasim needs to go too.
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Apr 01, 2013 02:41am
Abdul Razzaq should be back despite personal issues.He needs to be more disciplined not to criticize his fellow team mate.That's why his name has been missing.
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Apr 01, 2013 02:47am
There is no point playing shoaib malik if he is not going to bowl. He can make way for a specialist batsman like asad shafiq or umar akmal. Or some day replace afridi whenever he gets dropped. Also, hafeez can take younis khan's spot and make way for a more dependable opener. Kamran akmal is not a bad opening option until he is on the team. Also, hammad azam should be given a chance to add depth in the batting. Pakistan's tail was long in South Africa. They really must be missing Mohd Amir even now. What a pitty.
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Apr 01, 2013 03:16am
First they do not give chance to Abdul Razzaq and then they say that he had not played any odi since so and so. He could have done much better than some others in the team. Pakistan is missing a tallent because of personal liking and disliking.
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Apr 01, 2013 03:47am
You nailed it my friend. Iqbal Qasim is fast becoming version 2 of Wasim Bari inclined on ruining our future. Can someone ask Mr. Qasim, how will he defend the selection of the rest of the expired baggage who did not perform Just because Younis is a straightforward, honest and hardworking cricketer without any political or other influential lobby working for him, he was the easiest scapegoat for our abysmal performance in SA tour. By no means, I am against the exclusion of Younis on basis of his ODI form but what about the other culprits? scoring 20-30 odd runs in one out of five matches and that too in loosing matches is enough to save the neck of rest of parchi tola.
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Apr 01, 2013 03:49am
The whole Pakistan batting failed except Misbah. Just dropping one player is not fair decission. Iqbal Qasim should be sacked. Why Azhr Ali is in 30 players list. He is also test player.
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Apr 01, 2013 05:52am
they are doing injustices with Abdul Razzaq... He is the real match winner, Rest of the players is good for nothing....
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Apr 01, 2013 06:46am
PCB had good decision to sack Younis Khan.But i think in South Africa tour all batsmen seems to struggled in batting.in the light of past tour Younis Khan,s exclusion is unfair PCB will examine all other batsmen performance.If PCB wants to Pakistan Cricket team to get peak in cricket world they should make tough decision about senior player as like Younis Khan.PCB will provide fair & proper chance to young batsmen like Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin,Haris Sohai.
Regards
Kamran Bhatti
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Apr 01, 2013 06:49am
What Younis has done wrong...Why he is not with our winning squad members....better luck next time Younis....
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Apr 01, 2013 07:15am
Well It is high time to groom new talent, instead backing old players again.
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Apr 01, 2013 08:00am
The selectors keep repeating same mistakes. They are in denial or live in the past. How else can one justify picking failures.
With an eye on the future, now is the time to groom fresh players. All above 30 should be dropped because as it is the team keeps losing. What is wrong at providing opportunities to youngsters?
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Apr 01, 2013 08:28am
Coz Razzaq openly criticised Hafeez after not being selected for t20 semi final. Razzaq is also hit n miss. Personally, I think, Kamran, Umar (after their Faysal Bank t20 scores), Afridi and Malik should also go. Like him or loathe him, Misbah is Misbah.
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Apr 01, 2013 08:31am
Coz he lazy, not upto mark in fitness training. Not to same level as 40yr old Misbah in training drills. Just because he can hit the ball does not mean he should be automatic pick for squad. He needs to actively take part in training drills. His demeanour also does not do him any favours.
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Apr 01, 2013 08:49am
About time... Why it takes so long for us to make good decisions.. The guy is a goner and has faltered everytime... Hopefully we will have a new blood and better player
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Apr 01, 2013 08:59am
This selection committee lacks vision.They have made YK as scape goat.But the reality is that they retained most of the players who failed in the recent series in SA. I was expecting YK will retire from LOI before they sack him.He was a gentleman before, as he retired from T20.Among the 30 probables they have named, the following players should have been omitted.1) Shoaib Malik-He is a very ordinary batsman, he cannot bowl full quota of 10 overs.2) Kamran Akmal-He is a complete flop. 3) Afridi- He has passed his best. (they could have given chance to Mansoor Amjad) 4-Mohammed Hafeez-I do not know what can be done with him since he failed to withstand against top quality fast bowling specially Dale Steyn.5-Umar Gul-Pakistan did not play him last three ODI because of his poor form,it means the team has enough fast bowlers to replace him. They must include the new players in the 15 instead of the above mentioned flop players.The new players should not be PASSENGERS. They deserve chance.
This selection committee and the PCB board will last only until the elections are over.After the election PCB will have new set up and new selection committee. This is my imagination and thoughts.
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Apr 01, 2013 09:44am
At 40+, he is definitely past his prime!!He is not 35 for sure,just look at him and you'll know!!Just like Afridi, he forged his age in official documents..There should have been more players axed,but knowing how Pakistan cricket is run, this is no surprise!!
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Apr 01, 2013 09:44am
Rational and sensible comments
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Apr 01, 2013 10:35am
now Pakistan has good chances to lift the cup
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Apr 01, 2013 11:39am
he should have been dropped 10 years ago
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Apr 01, 2013 11:50am
Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad,Mohammad Hafeez (C),Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq,
Umar Akmal,Hammad Azam,Shahid Afridi,Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman,Kamran Akmal
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Apr 01, 2013 12:01pm
It is disgrace not to include our hero Younus in squad of 30 players.if you look at the performance of others who played against SA are below par. It is unfortunate to single out Younus.I think our selectors have done this to avoid criticism. If you take into consideration playing condition in England and his average in England his exclusion is not justified. Moreover you will miss a safe slip fielder which is essential in English condition. He is going through bad patch which comes in every cricketer'carrear.
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Apr 01, 2013 12:59pm
Akmal brothers continued inclusion means players will return rich sans trophy.
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Apr 01, 2013 05:38pm
Razzak career began to decline when he started to think that he is irreplaceable and hence the laziness and sharp decline in bowling speed followed just to prolong his career. Unfortunately for Pakistan, we have not yet found a player who matches his quality of prime years when he was famous as a Double Edged Sword capable of destroying opposition by both batting and bowling. Now his bowling is nowhere near the international standards and his batting has become hit and miss like that of Afridi
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Apr 01, 2013 09:27pm
What an irresponsible statement by Observer. First of all he is the fittest player in the team. He is certainly not over his stated age. Class is permanent and he has been unfairly dropped while all the others who failed in SA are still there in the team. Cannot imagine that one of only two players who scored a hundred in SA ( no matter what format) is being dropped from a tour of England where technique is key to survive. Pak selectors making the same mistake they did in 2010 tour of England.
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Apr 02, 2013 12:37am
if shahid afridi gets dropped, shoaib malik should play in his place as an all rounder. It will make place for a specialist batsman. There is no point playing malik if he wont bowl.
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Apr 02, 2013 12:43am
To All,
Razzaq not coming back. He spoke the TRUTH, and it doesn't better if you are senior or junior. There are many past incidents like this...
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Apr 02, 2013 05:54am
Afridi is older then Younis. afridi is 37 Younis is 35
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Apr 02, 2013 11:25am
Razzaq should be in....
Umar Waheed (18 yr old) looked great during the T20 tournament. Selectors should give him a chance...No need to continue with Umar Amin, Yasir Arafat, Anwar Ali and Abdul Rehman...
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Apr 02, 2013 12:34pm
i agree with your comments, except support for razzaq
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