LAHORE, Feb 18: The Federal Sports Minister Aftab Shah Jillani has failed to assure middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf about his return to the Pakistan team due to the player’s association with the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Yousuf, who last December rejoined the ICL which is niether recognized by the Indian cricket authorities nor the ICC, met the minister in Lahore on Wednesday to plead his case for rejoining the Pakistan team without getting disassociated from the Indian rebel league.

The federal minister said no doubt Yousuf was a great player and the government wanted all the Pakistani players playing for the ICL to represent their country once again but the ICC rules did allow this.

He said it was not his mandate to assure Yousuf that he would be allowed to play for the country since it was the matter between ICC and the PCB.

It is learnt the minister was briefed by the PCB officials over the issue before he met Yousuf on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Yousuf said he has pleaded his case before the minister and expressed his availability for the country which is “my first priority.”

The PCB chairman Ijaz Butt has already said that Yousuf was an asset for Pakistan and he wished his return back to the national cricket but for the ICL issue.