Pakistan recall Younus for Australia ODIs

Karachi:

Former captain Younus Khan was on Thursday recalled in Pakistan squad for the five-match ODI series against Australia starting January 22 in Brisbane.

Apart from recalling Younus, the Pakistan selectors have also retained wicketkeepers, Kamran Akmal and Sarfaraz Ahmed in the both ODI as well as Twenty20 squads.

The selectors have, however, dropped senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq and pacer Mohammad Sami from both the squads while continuing to ignore leg spinner Danish Kaneria from limited overs cricket.

"We have spoken to Younus and he is keen to return to international cricket. Captain Mohammad Yousuf also believes that he (Younus) will bring an element of stability and experience to the batting line up in Australia," chief selector Iqbal Qasim said.

Yousuf also told the Pakistani media in Hobart that he wanted Younus' return in one-dayers as the former captain was a proven performer and the best batsman at number three position.

Younus pulled out of the Test tour to New Zealand in early November last year after Pakistan, under his captaincy, lost a ODI series in Abu Dhabi amidst speculations that a group of players was not cooperating with him.

Younus, however, said that he decide to stay out of the series as he wanted a break from international cricket.

Subsequently, he also didn't make himself available for the Test tour of Australia which Pakistan has already lost 0-2 before going into the third test in Hobart.

Interestingly, the selectors have not included Yousuf in the T20 squad, led by Shahid Afridi and have recalled Fawad Alam, who was sent back home from Australia after the defeat in second Test in Sydney.

Qasim said both stumpers were retained in the ODI and Twenty20 squads as the selectors did not want Kamran to lose complete confidence in his wicketkeeping abilities.

"If Sarfaraz continues to keep well he is a good option and then Kamran is also capable of playing as a batsman in limited overs cricket," one selector said.

Sarfaraz was specially flown to Australia and debuted in the Hobart Test in place of Kamran, who was dropped after dropping four catches in Sydney.

ODI squad: Mohammad Yousuf (Capt), Younus Khan, Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Rana Naved, Saeed Ajmal and Khalid Latif.

T20 squad: Shahid Afridi (Capt), Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Imran Nazir, Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Rana Naved, Saeed Ajmal and Khalid Latif.