Yousuf has become a 'statsguru': Raja

Lahore, Nov 17 (UNI) Former Pakistan capatin Ramiz Raja has criticised the approach of run-machine Mohammad Yousuf in the fourth ODI against India at Gwalior, and called him a ''statsguru''.

In his coloumn in a Pakistan-based newspaper, the former CEO of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) denounced the attitude of the Pakistani batsmen, calling them selfish, and alleged that they seemed to be following different scripts and were only playing for personal glory.

Raja was particularly displeased with batting mainstay Mohammad Yousuf.

''If you looked at Mohammad Yousuf's innings, you could straightaway make out that he was more keen to play for himself than the team. He has now become a statsguru. He's always looking after himself and doesn't appear to be playing for the team,'' Raja said.

''Why would Pakistan lose matches whenever he has scored runs for his team? So I think he needs to improve his overall strike-rate if he is to become a potent force in the middle-order,'' he explained.

Calling Pakistan the weaker side in the ongoing ODI series, he critised the team's strategy and particularly Shoaib Malik's captaincy at Gwalior.

''I also thought Pakistan's strategy left a lot of questions unanswered. They lost crucial wickets at the wrong time and the innings never really took off. Malik's (Shoaib) decision to bat first had to be backed by a good total on the board.

''Malik will have to pick himself up for there is the Test series to follow and Pakistan can't afford to have a dejected and demoralised captain for that can pull his troops down as well.

'' A tour of India is always tough for the opposing captain and I guess Malik will have to learn the hard way, as he has no other choice,'' the cricketer-turned commnrtator added.

UNI