Those wacky Paksters

As reported by SG in the Test thread

"Mohammad Yousuf has been called into Pakistan's squad for the remainder of the England tour, as the PCB reacted swiftly to Pakistan's 354-run defeat at Trent Bridge. Danish Kaneria has also been axed from the group following his disappointing bowling display, with the left-arm spinner Raza Hasan called up.

The addition of Yousuf, who in March announced his retirement from international cricket, came just hours after England completed their big win in Nottingham. Earlier this year, Yousuf was handed an indefinite ban by the PCB after he captained Pakistan on their disastrous tour of Australia, during which the side fell apart under his control.

"We got a request from the tour management for Mohammad Yousuf and I then discussed with our selectors and we have okayed it," Mohsin Khan, the chief selector, told Cricinfo. "As far as I am aware Yousuf has been training and is fit. He has played in local club tournaments as well."

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Team morale is never a Pakster priority. Only the Paksters could get up to this sort of nonsense.

I doubt Yousuf would be of much help. YK would've been a better addition since he is already in Eng and playing for almost 2 months for Yorkshire.

Yousuf always had FTBism in his batting. Plus, he has not batted for a long while. I read somewhere that he hasn't even played FC cricket of late. And in the post ICL period, he averaged 35-odd in tests. So, I'm not sure recalling him from his retirement (a norm in Pak cricket) would help them much.

However, he would surely be not as bad as some of the younger batsmen.

Agreed. Clearly the great MoYo is past his best and if he was "banned" for allowing his team to fall apart, surely he won't be that welcome in the squad.

But nothing is impossible in Pak cricket. Not even winning the next test against all odds.

Too true, SG. It'd be just like the Paksters to play a blinder and blow Engulund away.

Ideally, you should want Eng to win all 4 tests in this series and become complacent come November.

Hehehe, I like your thinking.

But jokes apart, this year's Ashes should be a cracker. Better than last year's Ashes. Eng is brimming with confidence having found a core group of players on whom they can trust in all conditions and oppositions.

As for Aus, they hardly EVER get beaten at home. Do they? And Ponting & co would be extra determined (at home in probably swingless conditions where Eng are world's best) to avenge last year's defeat.

Coming to Pak batting again, this was what Holding had to say about Pak batting,

“If someone were to come down from Mars today and watch Umar Gul bat, they would think he is a top Pakistani batsman.” - Holding

Aptly summarized the plight of Pak batsmen.

So how long before the next retirement and/or life ban?

SG wrote:But jokes apart, this year's Ashes should be a cracker. Better than last year's Ashes. Eng is brimming with confidence having found a core group of players on whom they can trust in all conditions and oppositions.

As for Aus, they hardly EVER get beaten at home. Do they? And Ponting & co would be extra determined (at home in probably swingless conditions where Eng are world's best) to avenge last year's defeat.

Aus were beaten at home by the last decent team that toured there (South Africa in 08-09)

India got mighty close the season before that.

I know that and thats why I used the term RARELY. After all, being beaten just twice in almost 2 decades is as rare as they come. Especially knowing that they play at least 2 test series every year at home.

Great news for world cricket if he comes back
Player of his class was wrongly ban but the man stood tall and unlike others he did NOT even appeal against the injustice ban and now the cricket board has had to make another U turn
All hail M Yousuf

He's an overrated FTB who averages 29 against the best teams of the last 10 years.

He seriously needs to look up the term 'retirement' in the dictionary though.

He was only "retired for now" if I remember correctly.

doremi wrote:He seriously needs to look up the term 'retirement' in the dictionary though.

Pah, a mere novice. Afridi has retired twice as many times as Yousuf and he's still only 26.

The first time Yousuf tried it all he managed to retire was his name.

its very easy to refer to the dictionary but we all know that his retirement was due to PCB's terrible treatment which is why he did NOT appeal against the ban which he and almost every SANE person considered to be a joke
A Part of me hopes that he DECLINES the offer of coming back BUT then i remember the scorecard of the 1st test

Henry
M Yousuf is the greatest bearded batsman that i have ever seen

More Woody sagacity.

I think PP meant greatest-bearded batsman . ..

Deano's Terrorist would give YoYoMoFo a run for his money on that score

he was second picked

Pffft. I think you're all forgetting WG Grace.