Yousuf to pull out from ICL; may return to PCB's fold

Lahore, Sep 26 (UNI) Indian Cricket League (ICL) may be robbed of its star Pakistani player Mohammad Yousuf if his meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf bore fruit.

'The News' reported that pakistan's most prolific batsman has almost made up his mind to cancel his contract with the rebel legue, but much will depend on how his meeting with the PCB chief goes.

The meeting, which was earlier scheduled to be held today, has to be rescheduled as Ashraf has still not reached the country from Johannesburg, where he went to the watch the World Twenty20 final between India and Pakistan.

The meeting is now scheduled for tomorrow. PCB's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shafqat Naghami wrote to Yousuf yesterday informing him about the change in the date of the meeting.

Sources said the PCB chief will offer Yousuf a substantial amount as compensation if he agrees to forgo his lucrative contract with the breakway league.

But, even if the 33-year-old decides to quit ICL, it seems unlikely that he will be able to feature in the opening Test against South Africa starting in Karachi from October 21.

The stylish middle order batsman caused a storm earlier this summer when he joined the ICL after being snubbed by PCB while selecting their World Twenty20 squad. Three other Pakistani cricketers, former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and opener Imran Farhat also joined the ICL bandwagon.

The PCB, which had earlier announced that players joining the Essel-group backed ICL will be banned, decided to make an exception for Yousuf as he is considered to be the backbone of Pakistan's batting line-up, especially in Tests.

UNI