KARACHI, 17 August 2007 — Pakistan’s chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed is confident Mohammad Yousuf will make a successful comeback in October’s home series against visiting South Africa stressing that no Pakistan Test squad can be complete without the prolific batsman.
“I must say that you cannot make a (Pakistan) Test squad without Yousuf in it because it is going to be incomplete,” Salahuddin, alias Sallu, told Arab News in an interview here on Monday.
Yousuf, Pakistan’s most prolific batsman in recent years, was overlooked by the national selectors while naming Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup to be held in South Africa next month.
His exclusion became a major issue following speculations that Yousuf felt snubbed and may retaliate by signing up for the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Some critics fired the selection committee over the decision but most others backed the move considering the fact that Yousuf’s fielding skills are not up to the mark.
But the Lahore batsman, who amassed a record 1788 Test runs in 2006, is all set to return to the Pakistan squad for a home series against South Africa in October. The Proteas are scheduled to play two Tests and five one-dayers in Pakistan in October and Sallu predicted that Yousuf will be one of the top performers in the series.
“There is no doubt that Yousuf is among the world’s top batsmen and we expect him to shine against South Africa in the home series and later on the tour of India,” said Sallu, a former Test cricketer.
The chief selector said that Inzamam-ul-Haq will also be in contention for an international return provided he proves his fitness. “A fit Inzamam will be an asset for us because he is a great batsman,” he said.
Sallu said that the selectors are yet to discuss the combination of the home team for the series against South Africa and will begin their deliberations after a week-long conditioning camp to be held in Lahore from August 19.
“Team management will be carrying out fitness tests of the players at the Lahore camp and after that phase we will start discussing the combination for the series against South Africa.”
Sallu said that Test cricket is a completely different ball game when compared to limited-over matches which is why “there could be several changes” in the Pakistan squad after the Sept. 11-24 Twenty20 World Cup.
Sallu refrained from giving any more details but it is almost certain that players like Yousuf, leg spinner Danish Kaneria, pacer Mohammad Sami will return to the squad while middle order batsmen Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Yasir Hameed, Naved latif and Shahif Yousuf will also be considered.
Misbah-ul-Haq, a surprise choice for the Twenty20 World Cup, will also be in contention for a Test return but the 33-year-old batsman’s chances will largely depend on his performance in the Twenty20 World Cup where he would form the team’s middle order with former captain Younis Khan.
