Younis Khan seeks ‘justice’ after HBL disbands cricket team

Former Pakistan captain and the country’s most successful test batsman Younis Khan has slammed Habib Bank Limited's (HBL) decision to discontinue its department cricket team after 43 years of being part of the country’s domestic circuit.

"Whoever has made the decision to disband the HBL cricket team should be brought to justice," said Younis Khan, while talking to media. “Last year, UBL department team closed down and I was captain of that side, I tried my level best and went to England to meet Sir Anwar Pervez but they had made up the decision,” he added.

Last night, HBL announced that it would scrap its department cricket in order to focus on its investments in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). "To continue to invest in HBLPSL, and in the larger interest of cricket in Pakistan, HBL will redeploy its valuable resources from other avenues," an HBL spokesperson said, quoted media reports. "This reinvestment will be partially achieved by exiting departmental cricket. HBL has had a long history in departmental cricket and recognizes its valuable contributions to Pakistan cricket. Consequent to our enhanced focus on HBLPSL, the HBL cricket team will be demobilized."

With this move HBL, which are the current champions of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, will not renew contracts of 26 players and six support staff personnel, which expired on March 31.