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Pakistan batsman Yousuf joins ICL
Yousef is considered one of the world's classiest batsmen
Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has joined the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL), in a move that could jeopardise his international future.
He is now unlikely to play in the three one-dayers against the West Indies, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday.
"His wife told us on the telephone that he has left for India today to play in the ICL," PCB director of operations Zakir Khan said.
"But we will wait for facts and figures before taking any action against him."
The PCB has a strict policy of banning all players who have joined the ICL - a Twenty20 league which is bankrolled by India's largest media group, Zee television, and not recognised by world cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council.
Yousuf had been set to join the ICL when it was set up in 2007 after he was left out of the Pakistan squad for the World Twenty20 tournament.
But after talks with former PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf, he agreed to forego the move and remain eligible for Pakistan.
606: DEBATE
This represents, undoubtedly, one of the unauthorised Twenty20 League's biggest coups...
MalikBrother
However, several former Pakistan players, including ex-skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood, pacemen Shabbir Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, and opener Imran Farhat, are still playing in the ICL and are thus barred from national selection by the PCB.
Yousuf left for New Delhi on Monday from Lahore just hours after he was named in a 15-strong Pakistan squad for the three-match one-day series against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi from 12-16 November.
"He did not inform us about his travel plans to India and we are trying to contact him directly," Khan added.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam, recently appointed to succeed Geoff Lawson, said the team has enough reserve players to replace Yousuf for the series in Abu Dhabi. Opener Nasir Jamshed will have a fitness test before departing as he has just recovered from a bout of malaria.
Pakistan squad to play West Indies: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Abdur Rauf, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Fawad Alam.
Yousef is considered one of the world's classiest batsmenPakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has joined the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL), in a move that could jeopardise his international future.
He is now unlikely to play in the three one-dayers against the West Indies, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday.
"His wife told us on the telephone that he has left for India today to play in the ICL," PCB director of operations Zakir Khan said.
"But we will wait for facts and figures before taking any action against him."
The PCB has a strict policy of banning all players who have joined the ICL - a Twenty20 league which is bankrolled by India's largest media group, Zee television, and not recognised by world cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council.
Yousuf had been set to join the ICL when it was set up in 2007 after he was left out of the Pakistan squad for the World Twenty20 tournament.
But after talks with former PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf, he agreed to forego the move and remain eligible for Pakistan.
606: DEBATE This represents, undoubtedly, one of the unauthorised Twenty20 League's biggest coups...
MalikBrother
However, several former Pakistan players, including ex-skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood, pacemen Shabbir Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, and opener Imran Farhat, are still playing in the ICL and are thus barred from national selection by the PCB.
Yousuf left for New Delhi on Monday from Lahore just hours after he was named in a 15-strong Pakistan squad for the three-match one-day series against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi from 12-16 November.
"He did not inform us about his travel plans to India and we are trying to contact him directly," Khan added.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam, recently appointed to succeed Geoff Lawson, said the team has enough reserve players to replace Yousuf for the series in Abu Dhabi. Opener Nasir Jamshed will have a fitness test before departing as he has just recovered from a bout of malaria.
Pakistan squad to play West Indies: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Abdur Rauf, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Fawad Alam.
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