"Younis Khan can play for Pakistan for another 4 or 5 years": Mohsin Khan by PakPassion.Net

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Player:

Younis Khan

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DateLine: 14th June 2010

 

Pakistan's Chief Selector Mohsin Khan showered praise on Twenty/20 World Cup winning captain Younus Khan and dropped a major hint that Younus would be recalled for the upcoming 3 month tour of England.

 

"Younus is a fine cricketer and a wonderful human being. He is someone who really looks after himself and is a very fit individual. I believe that he can continue to play for Pakistan for another 4 or 5 years".

 

Younus was successful in his recent appeal against a ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board and has hinted that he is ready to make a comeback to international cricket, althouogh it would seem there has been no direct contact between the selectors and Younus Khan since he arrived in England.

 

Younus has not played for Pakistan since January of this year, when he scored 3 off 22 deliveries, as Pakistan were beaten by 2 wickets against Australia in Perth. However, Mohsin confirmed that the selectors were keeping a very close eye on Younus' form at Surrey and that they were happy with his progress so far.

 

"It's very good that Younus is getting some cricket under his belt in England and we are happy with his progress so far. The signs that we are getting from Younus are that he is ready to comeback to international cricket, it all seems very positive".

 

Mohsin who took over from Iqbal Qasim as Chief Selector in February however clarified that in order for Younus to be selected for the tour of England,he would need Pakistan Cricket Board clearance.

 

"The PCB need to give Younus clearance, in order for myself and my colleagues on the selection committee to consider his selection. I'm hopeful that the Board will give him (Younus) clearance and the selection committee can think about whether we want to include him against England and Australia".

 

Whilst all the signs are positive for 32 year old Younus Khan's return to international cricket, there is still uncertainty surrounding another former captain, Mohammad Yousuf. Mohsin clarified the current position regarding Yousuf and his international future.

 

"The last I have heard from Yousuf is that he has retired from international cricket. I have heard nothing further. Players have to realise that to play for your country is an honour and that the players need their country, more than the country needs a player. If you don'tmake yourself available, then how can the selectors even consider you for selection. It doesn't matter whether you are a junior player or a senior player, you have to communicate your availability to those responsible for picking the squads".

 

Looking ahead to the tour of England which starts on June 27th, Mohsin Khan stated that the squad was yet to be finalised and that he has a meeting scheduled in Sri Lanka with captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis, after which the squad will be announced.

 

"We are scheduled to announce the squad for England on either 20th or 21st June. I'll be travelling to Sri Lanka and will sit down with Shahid (Afridi) and Waqar (Younis) and we'll settle on the squad for the long tour of England".

 

Mohsin also clarified that the makeup of the sqaud for the initial part of the tour of England will be geared towards the shorter formats of the game and subsequent changes will follow once the test series commences.

 

"The initial part of the tour of England is focussed on Twenty/20 matches and we will select the squad accordingly. Once the test matches start against Australia on 13th July, we will have replaced some of the one day specialists with players who are more suited to test cricket. I would expect up to 4 changes to the squad once Pakistan take the field at Lords on 13th July".

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
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