PCB to sue Yousuf for violating central contract

Lahore, Nov 7 (UNI) The PCB today decided to serve a legal notice to Mohammad Yousuf after the veteran batsman joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), violating his central contract with the governing body.

PCB legal advisor Shan Gul said a legal notice has been prepared and will soon be sent to Yousuf. He added that the player has violated seven clauses in his central contract by signing up for the ICL earlier this week.

Talking to mediapersons, Gul said, ''We have prepared a case against Yousuf as he is guilty of violating his central contract with the PCB. A legal notice will soon be sent to him.'' The 34-year-old Yousuf has surprised the Pakistan cricket community when he abruptly left for India to play in the ICL just hours after the 15-member Pakistan squad for a three-match One-day International series against the West Indies, which begins in Abu Dhabi November 12, including him was announced.

Yousuf, who was the third Pakistani batsman to surpass 6000 runs in Test cricket, was among the elite national players who have signed central contracts with the PCB and gets a handsome annual salary in return.

The batsman, however, has alleged that he was forced to join the ICL because of a disrespectful attitude from Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik towards him and the 'shabby treatment' meted out by the national selectors and the PCB.

''There was no other way for me than to join the ICL because of the disrespectful attitude of captain Shoaib Malik and the way I was treated by the selectors and the PCB,'' Yousuf was quoted as saying by 'Geo News' today.

''For the last 18 months, I have been under great mental stress,'' he said.

Gul said the PCB is now also considering the option of filing a defamation case against the star player.

''Yousuf has tried to project a bad image of the PCB and the Board is seriously considering the option of suing him over the comments,'' the legal advisor added.

UNI XC PY RAR HT2020