Former Pakistan captain Younus Khan Friday raised hopes of an international comeback soon, saying he would be available for the team whenever needed. The 32-year-old, who was not considered for the tour of Australia after he did not make himself available and could not be contacted by selectors, made a surprise appearance at a coaching course in Lahore.
Younus, who also pulled out of the Test tour to New Zealand last month citing lack of form, skipped most the questions, but promised he will return when the team needed him. "I will be in action soon and will also return to play for Pakistan whenever the team needed me," Younus told reporters. He managed just 22 runs in the three one-day matches against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last month, but said he was not running away from cricket. "I needed rest, which I have taken, and I will be playing domestic cricket very soon.
I have never run from domestic matches and even after coming from the tours I played a domestic match the very next day," said Younus. Asked if he wanted to lead the team again, Younus praised Mohammad Yousuf, who replaced him as captain. "I am impressed with Yousuf's leadership qualities. He is leading from the front and if the seniors perform well, Pakistan can become world champions," said Younus.
Australian coach Tim Nielsen said Pakistan would miss Younus. "It's always hard to replace experienced players who've been to Australia or played all over the world, that's what makes them excellent players," Nielsen told an Australian news agency. "When you lose someone who's also had the experience of being the captain and also a leader in their group, it will be challenging for them if we can put them under pressure, for their younger players to have to cope with those things," said Nielsen.
Pakistan play the first of three Tests in Melbourne from December 26. Chief selector Iqbal Qasim confirmed Younus is expected to be in action in domestic matches, which could bring him back into contention for a place in the one-day series against Australia, which will be played after the Tests.
Younus has played 63 Tests, scoring 5260 runs with 16 hundreds. He also has 5698 runs in 197 one-day internationals. He took over as Pakistan captain in January this year and led Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title in England in June, but there were reports that he had fallen out with other senior players.