Pakistan sends SOS for Younus

Karachi:

Pakistan team management in Australia has requested the national selection committee to rush senior batsman Younus Khan as reinforcement for the Test series underway Down Under.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said coach Intikhab Alam and captain Mohammad Yousuf have called him up and requested requested to send Younus as soon as possible to Australia as they felt his experience was required in the batting order.

"But they spoke to me on telephone and any official request to send a replacement player has come to come through the Chairman of the Board. Until then we cannot move forward," Qasim said.

The Pakistani batsmen were shot out for 258 in the first innings of the first Test underway in Melbourne.

Sources said that the selectors, however, were not keen on sending Younus at this stage.

"Younus himself had taken a break from international cricket last month because he wanted to overcome his poor form and take rest. He also didn't get any runs in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final played last week in Karachi," the source pointed out.

"The selectors believe the best way forward is for Younus to play in the first round of the Pentangular Cup from January 1 and get some runs under his belt before he joins the team in Australia," the source said.