03-27-2009, 06:54 PM
Karachi (PTI): Mohd. Yousuf's flip-flop on his association with the Indian Cricket League continues with the Pakistan Cricket Board claiming that the senior batsman wants to terminate his contract with the rebel Twenty20 event and come back to the national fold.
The PCB has sent a letter from Yousuf to its legal department in which he has expressed his interest in playing for the country again.
Yousuf has been banned since last year from playing for Pakistan after he joined the ICL, which is not recognised by the International Cricket Council or its member boards.
The Sindh High Court last month allowed Yousuf and other ICL players to play domestic cricket but the ban on them representing the country remains in place.
A senior official of the board said Yousuf had sent a letter to Chairman Ejaz Butt saying he should be considered for selection in the national team once again.
"He has indicated he is ready to end his contract with the ICL if he is assured he will be selected for Pakistan," the official said.
But PCB COO Saleem Altaf said any decision on Yousuf would be taken after consulting the legal department.
"It is a complicated situation and we have to look at the legal implications of the matter but Yousuf has to leave the ICL to be considered for national selection," he said.
Altaf also made it clear that even if Yousuf left the ICL it was the discretion of the selectors to consider him again. But sources in the board ruled out any chances of Yousuf making a comeback in the forthcoming one-day series with Australia in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from April 22.
"That would not be possible because the PCB has to first get approval from the ICC before it considers any ICL player for national selection again," one source told PTI.
Yousuf refused to elaborate on the matter insisting the situation would be clear in the next few days.
"But as far as my playing for Pakistan is considered I have always said I am available for Pakistan," he said.
His colleague Moin Khan who is a key figure for the ICL in Pakistan made it clear that Yousuf would have to resign from the ICL before entering into any new deal with the PCB.
"Yousuf can play anywhere he likes but I would advise him to first inform the ICL organizers and resign with their consent to avoid anymore embarrassment," Moin said.
The ICL had filed a case against Yousuf after he walked out of a contract with them in 2007 before finally joining them again last year claiming he was frustrated at being mistreated by former captain, Shoaib Malik and the board.
Yousuf is expected to have a meeting with Ejaz Butt in next few days and claims he sent the letter to the board after getting clearance from the PCB.
The PCB has sent a letter from Yousuf to its legal department in which he has expressed his interest in playing for the country again.
Yousuf has been banned since last year from playing for Pakistan after he joined the ICL, which is not recognised by the International Cricket Council or its member boards.
The Sindh High Court last month allowed Yousuf and other ICL players to play domestic cricket but the ban on them representing the country remains in place.
A senior official of the board said Yousuf had sent a letter to Chairman Ejaz Butt saying he should be considered for selection in the national team once again.
"He has indicated he is ready to end his contract with the ICL if he is assured he will be selected for Pakistan," the official said.
But PCB COO Saleem Altaf said any decision on Yousuf would be taken after consulting the legal department.
"It is a complicated situation and we have to look at the legal implications of the matter but Yousuf has to leave the ICL to be considered for national selection," he said.
Altaf also made it clear that even if Yousuf left the ICL it was the discretion of the selectors to consider him again. But sources in the board ruled out any chances of Yousuf making a comeback in the forthcoming one-day series with Australia in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from April 22.
"That would not be possible because the PCB has to first get approval from the ICC before it considers any ICL player for national selection again," one source told PTI.
Yousuf refused to elaborate on the matter insisting the situation would be clear in the next few days.
"But as far as my playing for Pakistan is considered I have always said I am available for Pakistan," he said.
His colleague Moin Khan who is a key figure for the ICL in Pakistan made it clear that Yousuf would have to resign from the ICL before entering into any new deal with the PCB.
"Yousuf can play anywhere he likes but I would advise him to first inform the ICL organizers and resign with their consent to avoid anymore embarrassment," Moin said.
The ICL had filed a case against Yousuf after he walked out of a contract with them in 2007 before finally joining them again last year claiming he was frustrated at being mistreated by former captain, Shoaib Malik and the board.
Yousuf is expected to have a meeting with Ejaz Butt in next few days and claims he sent the letter to the board after getting clearance from the PCB.
