Yousuf’s defection to ICL overshadows team announcement: Selectors name 15-member squad for WI series
The new selection committee, headed by Saleem Jaffer, announced the side for the series to be held in Abu Dhabi from Nov 12 with Yousuf very much in the side. However, hours later, the it was revealed that Yousuf had left for India to play in ICL without informing the PCB.
Yousuf’s sudden move, in effect, makes him ineligible for all national and international cricket for Pakistan.
“Yousuf’s wife confirmed to us that he has gone to India to play the cricket league,” PCB’s Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan told reporters. “We could not make a direct contact with Yousuf but news coming from different sections of the press indicates that the batsman has joined the ICL,” said Zakir. “The PCB has no knowledge whatsoever about Yousuf’s decision since all this has happened very suddenly.”
Sources said former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has already joined the ICL after announcing retirement from international cricket last year, had persuaded Yousuf to rejoin the rebel league after he (Yousuf) had lost all hope of winning the case against the ICL which is pending in the Indian courts.
To a question, Zakir said it was the duty of the players to inform the PCB about their engagements prior to any tour and not vice verca. “For instance, Yousuf had informed the PCB much before the ICC Champions Trophy [now postponed] in September that he will not be available for the event due to Ramazan. So he was not selected,” explained Zakir. “But this is really shocking.”
Meanwhile, chief selector Saleem Jaffer said Yousuf had made himself available for the ongoing Pentangular Cup matches and his sudden departure for India had left everyone shell-shocked.
“According to the Punjab team coach, Yousuf did practice with the provincial team for the Pentangular Cup matches in Islamabad. But later on, he informed the coach that he will not be able to play because his wife is not well,” the chief selector told Dawn.
Saleem added that earlier, the selectors were also worried about the availability of Younis Khan — who is currently featuring in the Sheffield Shield in Australia — but the middle-order batsman on Sunday declared himself available for the ODI series. “I rang up Younis on Sunday morning to ask about his availability which he instantly gave and we selected him in the squad.”
Yousuf had joined the ICL in 2007 along with Inzamam, Imran Farhat, Azhar Mahmood and many others. But the PCB decided to ban all the cricketers who had joined the rebel league after the ICC denounced it last year.
Later, the PCB did manage to persuade Yousuf to change his decision and he was offered an attractive financial package and a contract to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) to compensate for the ICL loss. However, the ICL moved the arbitration court against Yousuf for dishonouring the contract to which the PCB’s then chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf provided legal support for the Lahore batsman for fighting his case. The PCB approached the higher courts in India where the case is still pending.
Experts say that although Yousuf has rejoined the ICL, there will be little respite for him from the courts since the IPL will probably sue him for backing out of their contract which the bearded batsman had signed last year on the insistence of the PCB.
Saleem said the selectors have replaced Yousuf with Khalid Latif, who was originally named in the list of reserves.
Meanwhile, half-fit opener Nasir Jamshed has also selected for the tour.
“Nasir was suffering from malaria and thus could not play for Punjab in the first match of the Pentangular Cup.
“But now he has recovered fully and to test his own form and fitness, Nasir will play a local match on Nov 6,” Saleem said. “We have still six days to leave for Abu Dhabi and hopefully Nasir will be fit before that.”
However, sources said, if Nasir failed to prove his fitness, Khurram Manzoor is likely to be included in the squad.
Three changes have been made in the team that toured Toronto, Canada in October to play a quadrangular tournament which also involved eventual winners Sri Lanka.
Nasir Jamshed, Rao Iftikhar and Saeed Ajmal have come in place of Shoaib Khan, Sohail Khan and Anwar Ali who have been axed due to poor form.
Shoaib Malik has been retained as skipper for the series which could be his last assignment as captain. His performance will be under review next month.
Team: Shoaib Malik (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice- captain), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wicket keeper), Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Umer Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Fawad Alam, Abdur Rauf, Saeed Ajmal, Khalid Latif.
Reserves: Sohail Khan, Yasir Arafat.