Yousuf breaks away from breakaway league
Posted on Sep 27, 2007 at 17:00
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Tags: cricket, india, icl
Karachi: The Indian Cricket League suffered a major setback even before its takeoff when Pakistan's run machine, Mohammad Yousuf broke ranks to sign a central contract with his cricket board here on Thursday.
Yousuf and Nasim Ashraf, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, told a joint press conference that the senior batsman had agreed to play in the Test series against South Africa. "There was a misunderstanding and nothing else. I had a positive discussion with Yousuf and he is keen to play for his country. He will now not be playing for the ICL and is available for Pakistan," Ashraf said.
Asked about possible repercussions emanating from his decision after signing the ICL contract, Yousuf said he was not aware of any clause that said he had to give top priority to ICL even if Pakistan was playing international cricket. "I don't know about this clause nor of any possible penalties," he said.
Ashraf said the board would now handle the issue and Yousuf was free to concentrate on his Pakistan duties. "He is the backbone of our batting and he will be joining the Pakistan team on Saturday and will play in the first Test from Monday,' Ashraf added.
Yousuf, a veteran of 75 Tests and 242 one-dayers, made a record breaking 1,788 runs in 11 Tests with nine hundreds in 2006. But he was dropped by the selectors for the Twenty20 World Cup last month a decision that led to his signing with the ICL.
Former captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzaq were the other players who joined the ICL with Yousuf. Yousuf said it had always been an honour for him to play for country and he was relieved to be back for Pakistan.
Ashraf, however, said the board had not thought about talking to other three players as yet on cancelling their contracts. Yousuf, by signing the PCB contract in category A, will immediately get a bonus amount of USD 100,000 and sources said the board has also agreed to pay him another bonus sum and also take care of any penalties he might have to pay if the ICL decides to make an issue of his canceling their contract.
Yousuf had said earlier this week he would reveal details of why he joined the ICL after meeting with the PCB Chief but at the news conference he insisted it was all a misunderstanding.
However, sources said Yousuf had complained to the Chairman about not being treated properly by the selectors and some players and also over the fact that he was even ignored for the vice-captaincy despite his spotless record in the team.
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Total Comments: 2
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Posted By Younis
I was not surprised to read about Muhammad Yousaf U turn from the ICL because world know him very well
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Posted By Sanjay
I think most ppl would hav predicted this - another Pakistani cricketer does a U-turn. Yousuf has used the ICL
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