Yousuf leaves domestic side after fallout with Rana Naved

Karachi:

Pakistan's former captain and senior batsman, Mohammad Yousuf, has left his old departmental side, Wapda, and joined Lahore after a fallout with teammate Rana Naved.

Yousuf and discarded national team pacer, Shabbir Ahmed, joined the Lahore team for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament after Rana refused to play Yousuf in a match.

"The problem arose after Rana, who is captaining the Wapda side, did not play Yousuf whose fitness was suspect, and could have had a negative impact on the team's performance," a source said.

The source added that Yousuf, who had to return home from Dubai without playing a Test against South Africa due to a groin injury, insisted that he was recovering and wanted to get back to playing for Wapda.

"Basically Yousuf wanted an opportunity to play and prove to the selectors that he is fit and available for the New Zealand tour," the source said.

He said, Rana, however, took a stand on the issue.

"Rana's contention was that Yousuf should spend time with the Wapda team and train with them before the management could be satisfied that he was 100 per cent fit to return to competitive cricket.

"Rana's concern was that playing an unfit player could ruin the team's chances of keeping its lead at the points table," the source said.

He said that after Yousuf was refused permission to play, he was joined in the protest by Shabbir, and both exchanged words with Rana, with Yousuf reminding him about his stature.

"But Rana stuck to his guns with the management also supporting him. Eventually Yousuf and Shabbir decided to leave Wapda and play for Lahore," the source added.

The national selectors are due to finalise the squad for the New Zealand tour and also give final shape to the preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup.

Chief selector, Mohsin Khan, has made it clear that only fit players who have been cleared by the integrity committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board would be considered for selection.

"I don't want to talk about specific players but we have sent a list to the board asking them to give clearance for the players. Any player who is not cleared by the board will not be taken into consideration," Mohsin said.

He also made it clear that even where the selection of suspended players -- Salman Butt, Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif -- was concerned they can only be provisionally included in the World Cup squad if the board gives permission.