Former Pakistan captain and world record holder batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who received a letter from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), alleging that his presence in the team is harmful for the team members, has announced his retirement from international cricket.
The PCB banned Yousuf and former captain Younus Khan indefinitely due to alleged "infighting", after an investigation by the PCB inquiry panel into the disastrous Australian tour. A disturbed Mohammad Yousuf, announcing his decision, said: "I always played for my country and if my playing is harmful for the team, then I don't want to play."
Yousuf's decision is not surprising, but what actually surprises cricket fans, including some Test players, is the treatment meted out to senior cricketers by the PCB. Former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq criticised the PCB for letting Yousuf down. He still has some years left in him, he said, adding that his absence would form a gap in the middle order, particularly in view of the forthcoming Pakistan tour of England.
Inzamam said: "But now that he has retired, I don't think he should reverse his decision." All-rounder Shahid Afridi said: "I think Yousuf is taking an emotional decision, but I think he must reconsider his decision because he still has a lot to give to Pakistan cricket. We have a lot of Test matches coming up in next 10 to 12 months and we need his experience against the top teams like Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand."
Selection committee chairman Mohsin Khan said that Yousuf should change his decision of retiring from cricket. Former Pakistan skipper Aamir Sohail said that Yousuf should have continued to play Tests. "If he remains fit, he can also play the 2011 World Cup," he added.
However, it is a novel example of dictatorial attitude of the PCB bosses, who instead of mending their ways took such a drastic action on the alleged report of "infighting" between two senior players. Yousuf said: "I never had any fight with Younus, we both supplemented each other on the tour of Australia, so there was no reason for fighting."
Replying to newsmen's questions, Yousuf said: "At the moment, my playing in the team is harmful so I am quitting. If I get time, I would love to play first class cricket and private leagues," he said.
Yousuf said: "I can still appeal against the ban, but only if my (religious) elders approve. I still believe that I have cricket left in me. Yousuf, who made his debut against South Africa at Durban in 1998, played 88 Tests, nine as captain and scored 7,431 runs at an average of 53.07, including 24 centuries. He also scored 9,624 runs in 282 One-day Internationals.
He was third behind Javed Miandad (8,832 in 124) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (8,829 in 119) in all time run-getters for Pakistan in Tests and second behind Inzamam (11,701 in 375 matches) in one-day cricket. But his greatest achievement was 1,788 Test runs in 2006 with nine hundreds - the world record for most runs scored and hundreds in a calendar year, beating Viv Richards' 1976 record of 1,710 for the West Indies.
He also won International Cricket Council Test player of the year in 2007. As regards "infighting," Pakistan dressing room is plague with the menace since long. Reports, emanating from the dressing room speak a lot of grouping, intrigues and politicking, hence " the incident of "infighting" could have been solved by the team management, comprising coach and the manager. But the report, submitted by the team management, speaks of the incompetence of those who were responsible for maintaining discipline in the team during the tour.
The fact is that the senior players were the cause of chaos in the Pakistan team, as instead of concentrating on their game, they remains busy in politicking and intrigues. Anyhow, there is no denying of the fact that absolute power corrupts absolutely and concentration of powers in one person or a group of persons destroys the institution. This is the whole truth, which is in vogue in the shape of inquiry panel report, which negates the concept of checks and accountability.
Comments
Comments are closed.