Yousuf ready to play in domestic cricket to facilitate Pakistan comeback

Islamabad: Veteran Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has said he is ready to play in domestic cricket in order to impress selectors, which in turn could facilitate his comeback in the national team.

Yousuf, who made his last international appearance in November 2010 in a one-day international against South Africa, was involved in a training session with national team head coach Dav Whatmore at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore earlier this year. However, the veteran was clearly told by the selection committee that he would need to show his form in domestic cricket in order to be considered for the national team Yousuf, who has for long been criticised for his poor fitness, has planned on featuring in the domestic tournament. “I’ll be definitely playing in the President’s Trophy after Eid,” the Express Tribune quoted Yousuf, as saying. “But I’m yet to decide for which departmental team. For the time being, I’m working hard at the NCA to keep myself in good shape so that when I go out there I give my best to ensure a quick comeback to national ranks,” he added. “For now, I’m concentrating on doing well in domestic cricket in order to impress the selectors. As far as doing well in international cricket in concerned, only time would tell,” he said. The veteran of 90 Tests, 288 ODIs and three Twenty20 internationals, also felt that age was not an obstacle in his way of making a comeback, while admitting that it would be hard to return after a long break. ANI