KARACHI: As expected, Younis Khan was overlooked for the tour of Australia on Tuesday when Pakistan were forced to continue with senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf as captain of a 16-man Test squad.
Younis, who opted out of the Test tour of New Zealand after leading his team to a disappointing 1-2 ODI series defeat against the Kiwis last month, has been completely unreachable in recent days.
Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said that Younis was not considered for the tough series against the Aussies after the seasoned middle-order batsman decided against featuring in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and did not give his availability for national duty.
“Younis did not confirm his availability for the tour of Australia and also didn’t play in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to prove his form and fitness,” said Iqbal.
The selectors dropped all-rounder Yasir Arafat and reserved wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed from the tour of Australia which will begin with the first Test in Melbourne from December 26.
With Younis opting to stay away, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to carry on with Yousuf as captain after the batsman led the tourists to a series-equalling 141-run win in the second Test against New Zealand last week.
“Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed to continue as captain of the team for Tests and ODI series in Australia whereas Kamran Akmal would be his deputy for the Test matches. Shahid Afridi will be the captain for T20 and would also be the vice captain for ODI matches on the Australia series,” a PCB media release said on Tuesday.
Younis, 32, had indicated last month that he would want to make his comeback on the tour of Australia. However, the selectors wanted Younis to appear in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to prove his form and fitness. Younis, who is said to have injured his foot while on a fishing trip in Karachi last week, did not take part in the tournament.
Just six months back, Younis was on the top of the world after leading Pakistan to a memorable World Twenty20 triumph in England. But after a series of upheavals in the past few months, he finally decided to take a break from international cricket after scoring only 22 runs as Pakistan lost their one-day series against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last month.
Pakistan have missed the prolific Younis in New Zealand where they lost the opening Test in Dunedin because of poor batting.
Younis, who averages over 53.73 from 63 Tests, is one of their most successful No. 3 batsmen. Batting on that position, he averages a healthy 60 from 35 Tests since 2004.
In his absence, Pakistan have experimented with youngsters Fawad Alam and Umar Akmal at the No. 3 spot in New Zealand but without much success.
Meanwhile, at a marathon meeting of the selection committee that lasted for almost four hours in Lahore on Tuesday, former captain Shoaib Malik was almost axed from the squad because of his poor form.
According to sources, the selectors were convinced that Malik doesn’t deserve a place in the team but had to change their mind after captain Yousuf and his deputy Kamran Akmal fully backed the under-fire all-rounder.
There was also this idea of dropping Fawad Alam but it was finally decided to have an extended 16-man squad for the tour of Australia.
Khurram Manzoor, who was unable to impress much in the first Test against New Zealand, was lucky to retain his place in the side for the tour of Australia.
Iqbal, a former Pakistan Test spinner, said that the squad for the five-match one-day series against Australia will be named after the second Test in Sydney next month.
Test squad: Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal (vice-captain), Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Abdul Rauf.
Younis, who opted out of the Test tour of New Zealand after leading his team to a disappointing 1-2 ODI series defeat against the Kiwis last month, has been completely unreachable in recent days.Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said that Younis was not considered for the tough series against the Aussies after the seasoned middle-order batsman decided against featuring in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and did not give his availability for national duty.
“Younis did not confirm his availability for the tour of Australia and also didn’t play in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to prove his form and fitness,” said Iqbal.
The selectors dropped all-rounder Yasir Arafat and reserved wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed from the tour of Australia which will begin with the first Test in Melbourne from December 26.
With Younis opting to stay away, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to carry on with Yousuf as captain after the batsman led the tourists to a series-equalling 141-run win in the second Test against New Zealand last week.
“Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed to continue as captain of the team for Tests and ODI series in Australia whereas Kamran Akmal would be his deputy for the Test matches. Shahid Afridi will be the captain for T20 and would also be the vice captain for ODI matches on the Australia series,” a PCB media release said on Tuesday.
Younis, 32, had indicated last month that he would want to make his comeback on the tour of Australia. However, the selectors wanted Younis to appear in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to prove his form and fitness. Younis, who is said to have injured his foot while on a fishing trip in Karachi last week, did not take part in the tournament.
Just six months back, Younis was on the top of the world after leading Pakistan to a memorable World Twenty20 triumph in England. But after a series of upheavals in the past few months, he finally decided to take a break from international cricket after scoring only 22 runs as Pakistan lost their one-day series against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last month.
Pakistan have missed the prolific Younis in New Zealand where they lost the opening Test in Dunedin because of poor batting.
Younis, who averages over 53.73 from 63 Tests, is one of their most successful No. 3 batsmen. Batting on that position, he averages a healthy 60 from 35 Tests since 2004.
In his absence, Pakistan have experimented with youngsters Fawad Alam and Umar Akmal at the No. 3 spot in New Zealand but without much success.
Meanwhile, at a marathon meeting of the selection committee that lasted for almost four hours in Lahore on Tuesday, former captain Shoaib Malik was almost axed from the squad because of his poor form.
According to sources, the selectors were convinced that Malik doesn’t deserve a place in the team but had to change their mind after captain Yousuf and his deputy Kamran Akmal fully backed the under-fire all-rounder.
There was also this idea of dropping Fawad Alam but it was finally decided to have an extended 16-man squad for the tour of Australia.
Khurram Manzoor, who was unable to impress much in the first Test against New Zealand, was lucky to retain his place in the side for the tour of Australia.
Iqbal, a former Pakistan Test spinner, said that the squad for the five-match one-day series against Australia will be named after the second Test in Sydney next month.
Test squad: Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal (vice-captain), Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Abdul Rauf.
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