Yousuf's inclusion for England Test series 'a laughable situation': Zaheer

Karachi, Aug 9(ANI): Former Pakistan cricketer Zaheer Abbas has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the selection of middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf for the England Test series.

"It is a laughable situation calling a batsman out of retirement and who technically is still banned. What message did it convey to the young players in the touring squad that the board and management does not have confidence in them?" The Daily Times quoted Zaheer, as saying.

"To make matters worse after calling him up urgently they don't even play him in the team saying he is not ready for international cricket. This is adding more pressure on the younger players, how do you expect them to perform?" he added.

He further said that the way the PCB and the team management in England have handled things could only be described as comical.

"I don't know what Yousuf is now doing in England. When he and Younus Khan were available why they were not selected in the team in the first place," he said.

Younus and Yousuf were banned indefinitely from the team in March following an inquiry committee report, which had probed Pakistan's dismal performances and disciplinary problems during the tours of the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Australia.

Five other players - Shoaib Malik, Rana Navedul Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal - were also banned or fined.

However, an arbitrator later lifted bans on Younus and Malik and halved the fines.

Naved's appeal is still pending, while Yousuf did not appeal and retired from cricket in protest. (ANI)