Karachi, Oct 2 (IANS) Younis Khan is hoping to send a clear cut message to Pakistan’s cricket chiefs that he wants to resume national duty by giving a forceful showing on the domestic circuit ahead of the ‘home’ series against South Africa in the UAE.
‘I am available for the national team whenever required and will play with the same energy and passion if given the chance,’ said Younis.
‘I’m spending time at the training ground to keep myself fit. I’ll also play for my team in the domestic season starting soon in order to become match fit.’
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) placed an indefinite ban on the former captain but, despite having the ban lifted by the PCB and the one-man tribunal, Younis remains out of favour with the board.
Younis stressed that it was time to run cricket matters properly and warned that the game could suffer like other sports if corrective measures were not taken soon.
‘Pakistan has enormous talent but if things are not sorted out soon, cricket could suffer like hockey and squash. Look at (Mohammad) Aamer who came into the sport without a strong background but still stunned the cricketing world with his performance. We have no dearth of talent and our future is bright. We just need to handle the affairs properly.’
Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s one-day captain, has stressed that Pakistan needs Younis and that there were no replacements available for a batsman of his calibre.
‘Pakistan needs a player like Younis because currently no player can replace him,’ said Afridi. ‘If somebody thinks he can replace Younis, he is mistaken.’
Pakistan will play two Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s against South Africa in the UAE series starting Oct 26.
