Yousuf wants out of form Misbah back in team

Karachi:

Newly-appointed Pakistan Test captain Mohd Yousuf wants the Cricket Board to bring back out of form batsman Misbah-ul Haq for the away series against New Zealand starting November 24.

"I think with Younus Khan not available for this tour, we need some experience in the middle order and I would prefer to see Misbah back in the team," Yousuf told a television channel.

"Misbah is a good batsman and I think the team needs him now when Younus is not available," he added. Misbah was dropped for the one-day and Test series against New Zealand last month by the selectors due to poor form but has been scoring prolifically in domestic cricket.

Yousuf was named captain for the series of three Tests after Younus Khan withdrew from the tour due to 'problems' with a section of players.

Yousuf said he was thankful to the board for reposing confidence in him and giving him the captaincy but said he had clamoured for captaincy.

"I never ran after the captaincy but now that I have been given this task I will try to do my best and see the team does well in New Zealand," he said.

"I don't know what happens after the New Zealand tour as far as captaincy is concerned but our immediate task is to do well there since historically we have always struggled in New Zealand conditions," Yousuf added.

Yousuf rejected suggestions that his batting might suffer due to captaincy.

"If I recall I had to captain the team in a Test in Melbourne when Inzamam was unfit and I scored a hundred so it is nothing new for me. I know that my role as a senior batsman is very important to the team," he added.

Yousuf would be leading a squad that includes Shoaib Malik, the former captain with whom he had a bitter war of words until last year. Yousuf had accused Malik for mistreating him and not giving him respect which forced him to join the rebel Indian cricket League.

But Yousuf said he has gotten over the past. "The team has loads of talent but it can only win if it shows unity and my main task is to ensure we play with unity in New Zealand with backing from the management," Yousuf added.