*Yousuf vows to shine in Trophy

[Cover Drive]

Wednesday, August 26, 2009
KARACHI: Pakistan’s premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf on Tuesday vowed to silence his critics with a forceful showing in the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Yousuf, under fire for his below-par showing in the recent one-day series against Sri Lanka, said that he is looking to give his best in the elite tournament starting September 22.

Some critics have questioned the selection of Yousuf in the Champions Trophy squad, saying that the seasoned batsman is a poor fielder in limited-overs cricket. Those experts have been calling for Yousuf to limit his international career to Test cricket.

The 34-year-old player, however, said his critics should be aware of the fact that he has been suffering from a shoulder problem for the last few years, adding that the injury has affected his performance as a fielder.

“I always field inside the circle these days because of the shoulder problem. But I’m hoping to get better,” he said.

Yousuf said that he is currently training hard for the Champions Trophy in spite of the holy month of Ramadan. “I do my physical training and also some batting, fielding and running practice,” he said. Yousuf, who has piled up 9292 runs from 272 One-day Internationals, has the complete backing of his captain Younis Khan.

Last week, skipper Younis Khan in spite of Yousuf’s below-par showing in the recently-concluded One-day series in Sri Lanka, saying that his top batsman will take his time to adjust to the demands of international cricket.

Younis said that Yousuf has returned after a gap of over a year, and that there is a big difference between playing the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and international cricket.

“He (Yousuf) was out of international cricket for more than a year and will take time to make adjustments,” said Younis. “He played in the ICL during that period but let me tell you that there is a world of a difference in the standard of that league and international cricket. I’m sure in time Yousuf will be giving his best for Pakistan once again.”


http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194966


(Ali888 doesn't like this article so that's why he didn't post it yet :D)

[kingusama92]

Nice to see that he understands the fact that he needs to improve his fielding. As long as he stays committed in trying to make it better I am fine with his inclusion in the team. He's a great batsman and a vital one to have in the middle order.

Younis Khan's support is nice to see as this shows Yousuf that he has the backing of his captain but he will have to prove him right now.

[Cover Drive]

Nice to see that he understands the fact that he needs to improve his fielding. As long as he stays committed in trying to make it better I am fine with his inclusion in the team. He's a great batsman and a vital one to have in the middle order.

Younis Khan's support is nice to see as this shows Yousuf that he has the backing of his captain but he will have to prove him right now.

Agree. How often have we seen Yousuf vowing that he will improve his game? Good thing is that he is realizing that he needs to improve in some areas. InshALLAH I have personal feeling that MoYo will fire in CT to silence his critics. His past record in South Africa (ODIs) isn't that bad. In his last series in South Africa he had performed well with bat and more importantly at a good strike rate. Insh ALLAH he will perform really good

[sali]

The interview sounds great but the news (The News) is that Yosuf is tying to skip the camp/training before CT due to his commitment to travel with Tabligh. He needs a lot of practice and training to get in shape and form.

[Rizwan25]

He is one of the best player pak has ever produced and I don't think he has anything to prove to anyone, he is a class batsman and everyone knows it. We cant just start kicking people out after one bad series. Just look at india, they kicked out Rahul, laxman and ganguly but now they realized it was a mistake so Raul dravid is back in team to increase team moral and confidence so we need to chill and give him some time and inshahAllah he will perform...I want him to get his 10000 runs before he retires....

[saadjhussain]

in SAF? good luck!

[MalikMohsin]

It is hard to believe him anymore. I guess we will have to wait and see.

[Inswinger]

Yousuf's form and our chances in the CT go hand in hand.

[hur rizvi]

He has been the most consistent run getters in both ODI and TESTS and is a real class player Insha allah he will perform in CT

[Khabri420]

I certainly hope we see a lot more commitment/effort from him in the field. Of course his batting is the priority, but he's been a liability on the field as well.

[shane]

1) Is it implied in his promise to start doing his best that he was previously not trying to do his best?

2) If he has an injury then that hardly excuses his form, it merely underscores the fact that he is no longer cut out for ODI cricket.

3) He would do well to retire from all short forms of the game and put all his energy into test cricket.

[kingusama92]

1) Is it implied in his promise to start doing his best that he was previously not trying to do his best?

2) If he has an injury then that hardly excuses his form, it merely underscores the fact that he is no longer cut out for ODI cricket.

3) He would do well to retire from all short forms of the game and put all his energy into test cricket.

Not many cricketers in these times would retire from ODI cricket to play in tests only :))) .

Suggestions are easy to make but put yourself in his position and look at the financial benefits of sticking to ODI cricket. If the selectors don't like him then they should drop him but don't blame him for wanting to play.

[IAJ]

to limit his international career to Test cricket.


“I always field inside the circle these days because of the shoulder problem. But I’m hoping to get better,” he said.

Well if he is not 100% fit, why is he in the squad? I know he is a world class player, but we need players who can throw themselves in the field to prevent boundaries and save singles, doubles.
A bad fielder (regardless of injury) can cost us 15-20 runs and in ODIs that is alot of runs.

Wish him goodluck.

[Amjid Javed]

Pakistan really does need its 1 world class ODI batsmen to fire in CT if pakistan are to do well.

[Ryankhan]

Yousuf is a class player no doubt and when he clicks he will make PAK win so its good to see YK backing him up as that also gives lots of confidence in Yousuf and inshallah im sure Yousuf will play big part in CT and as a exp player expect him to be there in the middle scoring runs and taking PAK to victories. He should improve his fielding.

[Juggernaut]

1) Is it implied in his promise to start doing his best that he was previously not trying to do his best?

2) If he has an injury then that hardly excuses his form, it merely underscores the fact that he is no longer cut out for ODI cricket.

3) He would do well to retire from all short forms of the game and put all his energy into test cricket.

Exactly what I'd like to know.

Lets see how he performs when the tournament comes around. But like Asif its a ''we shall see'' situation as far as Yousuf delivering what he's promised is concerned.

[Cover Drive]

Didn't Yousuf always field inside the circle? I am pretty sure he did during Inzamam era so I don't think that this guy have any kind or injury or maybe he does but as far my knowledge goes I have seen Yousuf fielding inside the circle for a long time

[sakss]

InshAllah MOYO will step up and perform like he used to////

[fahimszd]

M.Yousaf is no doubt a big star for Pakistan and InshaAllah he will shine in the CT.
Nice to see YK backing up M.Yousaf and encouraging him, YK is an excellent captain.

[Boi]

Didn't Yousuf always field inside the circle? I am pretty sure he did during Inzamam era so I don't think that this guy have any kind or injury or maybe he does but as far my knowledge goes I have seen Yousuf fielding inside the circle for a long time

Read the article again brother.

He said that he has had the Shoulder niggle for just a few years now.

[161]

oops .. somebody forgot to tell him it's in south africa :P

[mohammed.kasim_786]

Inshallah Yousuf will get 10000 runs during the tournament providing he gets into form(post 2006-2007)

[Juggernaut]

Inshallah Yousuf will get 10000 runs during the tournament providing he gets into form(post 2006-2007)

Don't hold you're breath :)

[srh]

I have read that some of the slectors were in favour of dropping Mohammad Yousuf from CT squad but team management asks to include him. So they include him with the understanding that team management will always make him field inside the circle.

[kingusama92]

Inshallah Yousuf will get 10000 runs during the tournament providing he gets into form(post 2006-2007)

You are expecting him to score 705 runs in a maximum of 5 games?!

He would have to be in unbelieveable form to do that. He would have to score at an average of 141. Are you kidding me man???

[mohammed.kasim_786]

You are expecting him to score 705 runs in a maximum of 5 games?!

He would have to be in unbelieveable form to do that. He would have to score at an average of 141. Are you kidding me man???


Who knows what he is capable of he might pull it off :moyo

[kingusama92]

Who knows what he is capable of he might pull it off :moyo

If he does then that would be the most ridiculous display of batting we have ever witnessed by any batsman in the Champions Trophy.

I would love to see it happen but the chances are very slim indeed.

[Juggernaut]

You are expecting him to score 705 runs in a maximum of 5 games?!

He would have to be in unbelieveable form to do that. He would have to score at an average of 141. Are you kidding me man???

Usama did you really take the guys comment seriously? :(

[kingusama92]

Usama did you really take the guys comment seriously? :(

Once he put Inshallah into it... I thought it was time to take it seriously. :D

[Juggernaut]

Once he put Inshallah into it... I thought it was time to take it seriously. :D

Ah fair point