Younis dropped as PCB announces squad for Australia series

LAHORE: Chief selector Moin Khan announced Pakistan squads for a T20 match and ODI series against Australia at a neutral venue of United Arab Emirates (UAE), the home series consists of three ODI matches and a single T20 game starting from 5th October.

During the press conference former wicketkeeper Moin Khan announced that the 36 year-old Younis could not make into the final squad of the ODI team, ‘Younis has been dropped as part of a strategy to look forward to the future but the doors are not closed on him.’

Pakistan’s former captain Younis has played 254 ODI matches for his nation, but he was dropped in March 2013 because of his inconsistent performance. Younis was recalled in the ODI team on previous tour of the Greenshirts at Sri-Lanka, but unluckily he couldn’t play the ODI series and departed home due to the demise of his nephew.

Talking about the World Cup preparations which starts next year from 14th February and ends on 29th March in Australia and New Zealand, Moin said, ‘There is little time left before the World Cup so the selectors have decided to try out and give more exposure to the new and younger players.’

On the other hand, Younis who has an impressive average of 51.41 in 91 Test matches and an average of 31.75 in 254 ODIs still hopes to play the World Cup 2015, ‘I will do my best to force my way back into the ODI side. I have no plans to retire from this format as yet.’

Meanwhile, experienced fast bowler Umar Gul and left arm-spinner Zulfiqar Babar are also dropped from the both format of the game.

Moin further said looking forward to the World Cup, ‘We have focused on youngsters like Saad Nasim. We have also recalled some young players like Umar Amin and Raza Hasan to bolster the squad, but this does not take anything away from the service Younis has given to the Pakistan team.’

Nasim who is an all-rounder, leg-spinner batsman and is uncapped in both the formats. The 24 year-old Amin has played 4 Tests, 14 ODIs and 9 T20 matches for Pakistan, is a left-handed middle-order batsman. Raza Hasan who made his debut in the T20 World Cup 2012 and played 7 T20 games for Greenshirts.

Pakistan squad for both formats:

T20: Shahid Afridi (C), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohd Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Sohaib Maqsood, Owais Zia, Saad Naseem, Raza Hasan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir.

ODI: Misbahul Haq (C), Ahmed Shahzad, Mohd Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Umar Amin, Asaf Shafiq, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Raza Hasan, Mohd Irfan, Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan.