"I Was Never Desperate for the Captaincy" : Mohammad Yousuf

[Saj]

A Test batting average of over 52, a One Day batting average of over 41, thity nine centuries and ninety seven half centuries are the astonishing statistics of Mohammad Yousuf.

A batsman with a silky touch and one who simply oozed class at the crease irrespective of the opposition, Yousuf's career has been a roller coaster ride of epic proportions. Matchwinning innings, run-ins with team mates, disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board, retirements and then comebacks.......we've seen it all.

In 2006 Yousuf broke the world record for most Test runs in a single calendar year. Yousuf was effectively banned from playing international cricket for Pakistan, for an indefinite period by the Pakistan Cricket Board on 10 March 2010, following an inquiry into the team's defeat during the tour of Australia. An official statement was released by the Pakistan Cricket Board, saying that he would not be selected again on the grounds of inciting infighting within the team.

On 29 March 2010, Yousuf announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket, a direct reaction to the indefinite ban handed out to him by PCB. However following Pakistan's disastrous first Test against England in July/August 2010, PCB decided to ask Yousuf to come out of retirement.

Yousuf's last appearance for Pakistan was in November 2010 when he featured in a One Day International against South Africa in Dubai.

Currently in the UK, Mohammad Yousuf spoke exclusively to PakPassion.net about his career, some of the great opponents he has come up against, his ambition to return to the Pakistan team, his thoughts on the upcoming batsmen in Pakistan and much more.

[Saj]

PakPassion.net: Many thanks in doing this interview with PakPassion.

Mohammad Yousuf: No problems, any time.


PakPassion.net: Why are you in England at the moment and what are your plans during this visit?

Mohammad Yousuf: I’m in England at the moment on some private business and the guys at Lashings asked me if I wanted to play a few games for them. I thought it was a good opportunity to play some cricket, maintain my fitness level and keep in touch with the game that I still love. In between the matches for Lashings, I’m continuing to do my gym work and maintaining my daily training routines. I expect to be in the United Kingdom for a month or so.


PakPassion.net: Any plans to play county cricket whilst in the UK?

Mohammad Yousuf: I’m available until the start of Ramadan and if a good offer comes my way then I will definitely consider it.


PakPassion.net: You’ve played cricket all over the world for many years. Are there any grounds or countries that you particularly enjoy playing cricket in?

Mohammad Yousuf: I regard my home ground, the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, as my favourite. It holds special memories for me and I’ve enjoyed some great moments at this ground. My other most favourite ground is Lords. It’s the home of cricket, steeped in tradition and you always get a unique feeling when you step onto the outfield. Lords is a brilliant ground and the atmosphere is unique.

I’ve always enjoyed playing Test cricket in England as the atmospheres at all of the grounds are excellent and fans turn up in huge numbers. As a cricketer you always enjoy playing in front of full stadia.

As far as touring is concerned, Australia and New Zealand are two countries that I have found fascinating to visit.


PakPassion.net: You didn't play domestic cricket in Pakistan last season. Do you have regret this, and any plans to play domestic cricket next season?

Mohammad Yousuf: This time around I will be playing domestic cricket. My plans are to feature in all of the tournaments in Pakistan, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the National One Day Cup and any Twenty20 tournaments that are organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Playing in the aforementioned competitions is going to be essential to my desire to return to the Pakistan team and playing in these tournaments is in my plans.


PakPassion.net: Some would say that at the age of 37, your time is up in international cricket. Mentally and physically do you feel you are still fit and ready to play international cricket again?

Mohammad Yousuf: Physically I’m in good shape and mentally I’m in great shape. I’m ready, able and willing to play for Pakistan any time the selectors want to call on me. My desire to play for Pakistan has not diminished and recently in Lahore, before I came to the United Kingdom, I gave a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy which I passed with flying colours. I’m confident that if I am given another opportunity by the selectors I would not let them down.


PakPassion.net: You’ve had a lot of highs and lows throughout your career. Do you feel you still have the desire to play for Pakistan?

Mohammad Yousuf: My heart is set on a return to international cricket. I know that despite my record and all of my previous runs in international cricket and performances, I need to impress the selectors once again. It is like starting all over again for me and I know that people will question whether I can still perform at the highest level at the age of 37, but I am confident that I still have a lot to offer Pakistani cricket.


PakPassion.net: Was there much interaction between you, the coaches and the other players at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore when the fitness tests and training sessions were taking place recently?

Mohammad Yousuf: All of the coaches and players were there. We met every day and spoke briefly a few times. In that environment you are there to carry on with your work and training and we were all very focussed on that.


PakPassion.net: Over the years you have played against some world class individuals and teams. Who do you regard as the toughest opposition you have come up against?

Mohammad Yousuf: Australia undoubtedly. Over the years whenever I have played against them in every format they do not give you an inch, they are never beaten and they have always been a very difficult team to play against.

However the current Australian team is weak in bowling strength which is to be expected as it’s impossible to replace great bowlers like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath overnight. The current Australian bowlers are nowhere near the calibre of Warne and McGrath and that is hurting their team in all formats at the moment.


PakPassion.net: You’ve had some great encounters against the Indian cricket team over the years. How would you describe playing against the arch rivals?

Mohammad Yousuf: India are of course our traditional rivals and it’s always been a unique feeling playing against them. It’s been interesting and exceptional playing against India but it is Australia, who have been our toughest opposition over time.


PakPassion.net: How would you rate the Indian teams you have played against?

Mohammad Yousuf: India’s strength has always been their batting line up. They have always had a strong batting unit, a unit that provides them with the cushion of runs, but I have never rated their bowling attacks. India has struggled over the years to produce great bowlers. In all these years I don’t think they have produced what I would term a world class bowler.


PakPassion.net: The Pakistan team is currently in Sri Lanka facing some tough conditions due to the heat and humidity. What’s tougher for a cricketer touring overseas to adapt to, the weather and climate or the wicket or surface?

Mohammad Yousuf: I think it all depends on how physically fit you are and how mentally ready you are. I’ve always felt that as a cricketer if you are feeling 100% fit and are mentally in good shape and at ease, then the overhead conditions, the surface, the weather or anything else does not matter - irrespective of the opposition and the location.


PakPassion.net: Moving onto the difficult tour of Australia in 2010 when you were captain. Looking back at the Sydney Test match that Pakistan surprisingly lost, what are your feelings about it?

Mohammad Yousuf: To take Australia to that level and to almost defeat them in Sydney was a remarkable achievement in itself. They were staring at an innings defeat which was an achievement itself. Winning and losing is part of the game of cricket and the fans and media should have appreciated the fact that for the first time ever a Pakistan cricket team were close to inflicting an innings defeat to Australia, in Australia.


PakPassion.net: But ultimately you lost the Sydney Test match when defeat seemed almost impossible?

Mohammad Yousuf: Our team was very weak in Australia. Our bowling line up was very good, a balanced attack, but our batting unit was very inexperienced. I was the only experienced batsman in our team, the rest of the batsmen were inexperienced and young.

Even though we lost the Sydney Test match, I feel that we performed very well. The fans and the media need to take everything into account and realise that a young team performed very well in that Test match and not just look at the final result.

Our intentions were to win the Sydney Test match but we lost - it’s part of the game.


PakPassion.net: During the Sydney Test match there were some incredible fielding lapses. Were you disappointed with the glaring errors and lapses?

Mohammad Yousuf: You have good and bad days in the field. Nobody intentionally made mistakes during the Sydney Test match, it’s part of cricket. Look at the 1999 World Cup match between Australia and South Africa where Herschelle Gibbs dropped such a simple catch and South Africa went onto lose that match. That incident is just one example of a fielding lapse.


PakPassion.net: The reaction to the Sydney defeat from the media and fans was very strong. Do you think that the reaction was justified?

Mohammad Yousuf: That is the way it goes with the public and the media, sometimes they back you, other times they don’t. They were entitled to their opinions about that match in Sydney and the tour of Australia.


PakPassion.net: You were replaced as captain after that tour of Australia - were you disappointed or hurt by that snub?

Mohammad Yousuf: The Pakistan captaincy is not something that I have craved over the years. I didn’t know when I was going to be captain and when I was not going to be captain, it’s all in the Almighty’s hands. It’s not something that I have been desperate for or indeed aimed to do, I have just preferred to look to perform to the best of my ability over the years.


PakPassion.net: Moving onto playing against the great bowlers from the Caribbean. What was it like to face the hostility and pace of some of the great West Indian bowlers?

Mohammad Yousuf: I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of facing the West Indian quick bowlers either in the Caribbean or at home. My record against the West Indians is good (seven Test centuries in eight matches). Obviously when I played against them at the start of my career they were a fearsome set of bowlers, but as a batsman I feel that facing such quality opposition spurs you on and drives you to achieve better results. It was a tough challenge against the West Indian bowlers, but happy to say that is was one that I usually came out on top.

Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose were particularly tough to face, even though I only faced them towards the end of their careers. They were fierce competitors and you knew you had been in a match when you had batted against them.


PakPassion.net: Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, two great spinners that you have faced on a number of occasions. Who do you rate as the better bowler?

Mohammad Yousuf: There is no comparison between the two. Warne was on a different level, he had so much variety. The only spinner who I would place even remotely close to Warne’s level is Saqlain Mushtaq.

Records and statistics aside, from my experience of facing Warne, Murali and Saqlain, I rate Warne as the best followed by Saqlain, who gave the world the Doosra, which is a remarkable delivery.


PakPassion.net: You played a lot of cricket over the years with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. How would you compare the two great bowlers and can Pakistan produce bowling talent of that calibre in future?

Mohammad Yousuf: To produce bowlers of the calibre of Wasim and Waqar is virtually impossible. Pakistan cricket was blessed to have them both bowling in tandem, usually bowlers of that calibre are a one-off and we were very lucky to have two such great bowlers in the same team.

Wasim was unique, a once in a lifetime bowler who had the ability to change any match even if the opposition was close to victory. It’s difficult to predict what’s going to happen in the future but I would be surprised if Pakistan produces talents as good as Wasim and Waqar in future.


PakPassion.net: You have played some of your cricket with Shoaib Akhtar. What was he like to play alongside and what advice did you offer him?

Mohammad Yousuf: (smiles) I kept my advice to myself when it came to Shoaib. He had a seniority level of his own. What a fantastic bowler he was when he was on song and fit. He was always vibrant in the field, full of advice and energy too.

It’s unfortunate that he could not play a lot of cricket for Pakistan as he could have been one of the all-time greats. He should really have played over 300 ODIs and over 100 Test matches for Pakistan.


PakPassion.net: We are seeing Twenty20 cricket becoming more and more popular all over the world. Do you think this format is having an adverse effect on the techniques of batsmen?

Mohammad Yousuf: Proper and genuine batsmen will have no problems at all adjusting their technique to all three formats. Those types of batsmen will not have any problems tweaking their techniques to be effective in every format. The problems are there however for those players that I deem as head in the clouds and hope for the best type batsmen who struggle to adjust to Test cricket. They struggle to get away with their frail techniques in one day cricket and they get found out in Test cricket.

Even in one day cricket, the aforementioned type of cricketers struggle to build innings. Sometimes in 50 over matches you have to build an innings, you have to be patient and rotate the strike which they find difficult to do. Most of the time these T20 specialists struggle to score runs even in one day internationals, occasionally they will score a few runs with a bit of luck.

It’s much easier for proper batsmen who can be effective in Test cricket to also produce good results in the shorter formats, but virtually impossible for these so called T20 specialists to be effective in the 50 over and five-day formats.


PakPassion.net: The rules are continually being tweaked in one day cricket, to ensure that it remains popular. What are your thoughts one the 50 over format and the rule changes we have seen in recent times?

Mohammad Yousuf: Even as a batsman I’m pleased that the rules regarding 2 cricket balls being used in one day internationals has been implemented. There should be some help for the bowlers as modern day cricket is becoming too much in favour of the batsman.

In the One Day and the twenty-over formats I would like to see two bouncers per over being permitted. Let’s see more equality between the ball and the bat instead of ball after ball sailing into the stands. The better batsmen around the world will be able to still perform well with these rule changes, but there has to be more of an even contest between the bat and the ball.

In Test cricket I would go as far as allowing a bowler to be permitted to bowl three bouncers per over. Let’s test the quality of the batsmen, instead of them just being allowed to plant their front foot down the crease and play each ball with ease.


PakPassion.net: Moving onto DRS. A good initiative or not?

Mohammad Yousuf: I firmly believe that utilising technology in cricket is wonderful. It’s important that the glaring mistakes by umpires are removed from the game, the decisions that leave a bad taste in the mouth of either team. Wicketkeepers need to have an added string to their bow as the captains rely heavily on them on whether to refer a decision or not. You need a wicketkeeper who is not excitable and wanting to review every decision, the wicket-keeper needs to be level headed and calm as the captain will more often than not rely upon his judgement.


PakPassion.net: What are your opinions on Asad Shafiq and has he got the technique and temperament to become an established member of the Pakistan team in years to come?

Mohammad Yousuf: When he first came into the Pakistan team in 2010 in England for the one day internationals, I was also in the team. I watched him closely then and he impressed me greatly. Technically he looks very good, he has the right temperament and I think he has the skills to represent Pakistan in all three formats for many years to come.


PakPassion.net: Umar Akmal has been dropped from the Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, what are your thoughts on Umar Akmal as a batsman?

Mohammad Yousuf: There is only one person who can get Umar Akmal into the Test team and that is Umar himself. It’s all down to him. He has to realise that Test cricket is the most difficult format of cricket. Test cricket is the real deal, whilst one day cricket and T20 cricket is just there to make money. Some batsmen can look very good in the 20 and 50 over formats, yet when you put them in white clothing and ask them to perform in Test cricket, they freeze and their weaknesses are shown up.

Umar needs to look at where things are going wrong in Test cricket and to prove to the selectors that he has the technique and the mental strength to play Test cricket. It’s all down to him, coaches and team mates can only help him so much, once you are out there in the middle it’s a lonely place especially if you are not performing well. I would urge him to prove to himself and everyone else that he is good enough for Test cricket.


PakPassion.net: Your thoughts on Pakistan’s middle order in future once Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan retire?

Mohammad Yousuf: Both Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq look accomplished batsmen to me. They both played well against England recently in the UAE and I think both of them can be the backbone of the Pakistan team in future. They have both shown the right temperament and they have scored runs when the team was struggling, which is important.


PakPassion.net: Mohammad Hafeez was recently appointed as the T20 captain. What are your thoughts on his appointment and do you see Hafeez as Misbah’s readymade replacement as captain in other formats?

Mohammad Yousuf: I’d like to firstly take this opportunity to congratulate Hafeez on his appointment as captain of the T20 team. I’ve played quite a lot of cricket with Hafeez and he once made a century batting alongside me. Hafeez is a good cricketer, he’s a fighting cricketer who has improved greatly over the last couple of years. It’s a very good decision to make him the T20 captain.


PakPassion.net: Have you had a chance to meet with either the selectors or the new PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf to discuss your future?

Mohammad Yousuf: No I haven’t had a chance to meet the Chairman yet. My thinking is that rather than speaking with selectors, it’s best to play some domestic cricket and let my performances do the talking.


PakPassion.net: Any message for everyone who will be reading this interview?

Mohammad Yousuf: My message to everybody is that the Pakistani cricketers are doing their best on the field. Always support them, get behind them. We all want success for the Pakistan cricket team, whether that is the fans, media or the players, so we should all pull in the same direction.

None of the players want to perform badly. Winning and losing is part of professional sport, you have good and bad days, but support the team and the nation at all costs. Wherever you are in the world, support the Pakistan cricket team, respect the players, they are trying their best for themselves, for you and for the nation.

The Indian and English fans, their cricket Boards, the politicians and media respect their players so much, Pakistanis should do the same. There is a difference between being passionate and being disrespectful and I would urge Pakistanis all over the world to respect your cricket team and your country, support your team at the stadia all over the world and not to abuse them. That way if you support the players they will grow in confidence and the results will be even better.


PakPassion.net: Many thanks for your time today.

Mohammad Yousuf: You’re welcome.

[Ahson Afzal]

Good interview. Enjoyed reading it thoroughly.

[Pete Rose]

wow, a very unexpectedly balance interview.
much like his batting on song, serene.
all nasty questions dead-batted with soft hands

[Bullet Drive]

An amazing interview. One of the best I've read. Thanks PP.

[Shayan]

A fantastic interview, thoroughly enjoyed that. His closing comments in particular should be read by all.

[TAK]

very non-commital about that shambolic sydney test

his attitude stinks of, oh well you win some you lose some, the aussies are so tough, they never know when they are beaten blah blah black sheep

was the interview conducted in english saj?

[Saqib]

Great interview Saj!

I realy hope he finds himself back in the team again just for couple of years. It's possible these days players are staying till there 40s.

[Awesome Anjum]

Interesting but unsuprising comments about the Sydney Test

Would have been interested to hear his comments regarding the Salman Butt run out in Hobart.

[Pakprideuk]

Wow, his knowledge of the game is really good compared to other former Pakistanis. He's actually a very good thinker, interesting views of Murali and Warne.

[truthseer]

Originally Posted by TAK very non-commital about that shambolic sydney test his attitude stinks of, oh well you win some you lose some, the aussies are so tough, they never know when they are beaten blah blah black sheep was the interview conducted in english saj?

He couldn't have just come and said, "Kamran cheated."

One has to be a bit politically correct

[w8in_4_0402]

Good interview.

You can see people like to make things up about others without much evidence.

[CricnPak]

Great interview. Even if he doesn't get back in the team, I think he would make a great batting consultant and should be in the team management to guide the young guys (Azhar, Asad, Umar)

[MR__KHAN__JI]

One of our best.

It's one of my greatest regrets that we missed his best years.

2007-2012.

He could have scored 4000 more runs, putting daylight between himself and every other Pakistani batsman who has ever lived....

Alas he couldn't see further than the proverbial 2 yards.

[Abid Z]

Originally Posted by MR__KHAN__JI One of our best. It's one of my greatest regrets that we missed his best years. 2007-2012. He could have scored 4000 more runs, putting daylight between himself and every other Pakistani batsman who has ever lived.... Alas he couldn't see further than the proverbial 2 yards.

he could yet claw his way back through sheer determination and weight of domestic runs. its a slim chance but if he is on of the best 11 in the country then he should come back to the national team. Didnt WG Grace play until his mid 40's?
He should have explained more about what he was up to in the last 12 months, since warwickshire 6 match stint a year ago there has been nothing from him.

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by Abid Z he could yet claw his way back through sheer determination and weight of domestic runs. its a slim chance but if he is on of the best 11 in the country then he should come back to the national team. Didnt WG Grace play until his mid 40's? He should have explained more about what he was up to in the last 12 months, since warwickshire 6 match stint a year ago there has been nothing from him.

That's just fanciful/romantic thinking IMO

No chance now.

I just hope youngsters have learnt by copying his good points and learning from his mistakes.


And as for the title.

IMO craved the captaincy big time.

He thought it was his right as a senior player once inzi retired.

[munda_khi]

Yousuf throws his hat in the captaincy ring

Mohammad Yousuf has thrown his hat into the ring as a willing contender for Pakistan's cricket captaincy a day after Younis Khan turned down the offer.

Though Yousuf has not been offered the post, one that must be cricket's toughest job at the moment, he told Cricinfo that he would be more than willing to accept it if the offer was made. "The PCB has not contacted me but I have no problem leading the team."

Younis refused the post citing the mental strain the job would bring with it but Yousuf shrugged aside such concerns, even hinting that he was, by rights, next in line.

"I don't see any kind of pressure in the job. I think I'm a worthy candidate as in the last year I have really proven myself. It has always been an honour to represent Pakistan and it would be a real pleasure to lead the team at this difficult time."

Yousuf has captained Pakistan in three Tests, winning one against South Africa at Lahore and losing the other two to Australia in 2004-05 at Melbourne and Sydney. Until Younis took over as vice-captain, Yousuf had held the post since the 2003 World Cup.

"I'm a senior player now and I have previous leadership experience," Yousuf said. "We won that Test against South Africa and in Australia as captain, I made a hundred. And before that, I was vice-captain so I am confident I can do the job justice."

Yousuf, who broke the long-standing record of most Test runs in a calendar year in 2006 and was chosen as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year, stressed the need for a swift decision. "Whoever is selected, it should be done soon. Ideally, a good step would be to appoint an experienced player and allow him to groom a youngster for the role.

"In the past, in Pakistan sides, there have always been many ex-captains or players who wanted to lead and that hurt the team. That has to be avoided this time."

In much of the captaincy talk, Yousuf's name has been conspicuously downplayed by the board's decision-makers. The accent has been on youth; Shoaib Malik has been repeatedly mentioned, so too Salman Butt.

A few players, however, have voiced concerns about opting for youth, purely for the sake of it, over an established name. "The names mentioned are all players who aren't really sure of their places in the side. To burden them with leadership isn't a good move," said one.

Another added, "This is Pakistan, not a club or department team. Whoever is chosen should be a regular, proven performer. Some of the younger candidates mentioned haven't even performed well recently. How can they be expected to lead a team in which their own position is not certain?"

It suggests that an investment in youth might not be universally popular within the team, potentially leaving the board already worrying about future dissent. Just how much of a quandary the board is rooted in is evidenced by the fact that there has still been no official reaction to Younis's decision, more than a day after the event.


http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan...ry/290420.html

-------------------------------

blast from past

[DeadlyVenom]

Love the way our players blatantly lie about their captaincy amibitons, as if fans have the memory span of a goldfish.

[KingKhanWC]

Good interview. His desire to play for Pakistan(again) is of course a good thing but this would only be limited to test cricket. I don't think Yousuf has the skills in the field any longer for the shorter formats, his fielding wasn't great when he was younger.

Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have done well v England so their positions are cemented for a while now. The only way Yousuf could get in if one of those two gets injured or if Taufeeq is dropped and Azhar opens.

However much I loved to see Yousuf playing at his best, I think Pak has moved on now.

[ElRaja]

However the current Australian team is weak in bowling strength which is to be expected as it’s impossible to replace great bowlers like Shane ............. PakPassion.net: Moving onto the difficult tour of Australia in 2010 when you were captain. Looking back at the Sydney Test match that Pakistan surprisingly lost, what are your feelings about it? Mohammad Yousuf: To take Australia to that level and to almost defeat them in Sydney was a remarkable achievement in itself. They were staring at an innings defeat which was an achievement itself. Winning and losing is part of the game of cricket and the fans and media should have appreciated the fact that for the first time ever a Pakistan cricket team were close to inflicting an innings defeat to Australia, in Australia. PakPassion.net: But ultimately you lost the Sydney Test match when defeat seemed almost impossible? Mohammad Yousuf: Our team was very weak in Australia. Our bowling line up was very good, a balanced attack, but our batting unit was very inexperienced. I was the only experienced batsman in our team, the rest of the batsmen were inexperienced and young. Even though we lost the Sydney Test match, I feel that we performed very well. The fans and the media need to take everything into account and realise that a young team performed very well in that Test match and not just look at the final result.

i really appreciate yousufs contributions to pakistani cricket over the year but this in essence is why he should never have been made captain. i remember watching the game furious with rage at how we played and this guy is saying we performed well in that test.

pak lost against a team from a strong postion he himself says had a weak bowling attack, we completely let them off the hook due to yousuf's own rubbish captiancy and horrible fielding in general and then claim the team performed well, what a load of boll . . . , getting aus close to an innings defeat is no acheivement at all if you end up losing, if a loser mentality like that was pervasive through out the tour its no wonder we won nothing.

[Abid Z]

Originally Posted by ElRaja i really appreciate yousufs contributions to pakistani cricket over the year but this in essence is why he should never have been made captain. i remember watching the game furious with rage at how we played and this guy is saying we performed well in that test. pak lost against a team from a strong postion he himself says had a weak bowling attack, we completely let them off the hook due to yousuf's own rubbish captiancy and horrible fielding in general and then claim the team performed well, what a load of boll . . . , getting aus close to an innings defeat is no acheivement at all if you end up losing, if a loser mentality like that was pervasive through out the tour its no wonder we won nothing.

i can understand what you are saying but ultimately i disagree with you both on point of fact and sentiment. firstly i think we can all agree that it was criminal for hussey and siddle to get to a lead of over 150 and that was partly due to awful fielding, keeping and field placements for which yes yousuf gets some blame but not all. after all aamir dropping hussey or akmal letting him off three times cant be blamed on the captain.
coming on to the batting pak should easily have made those runs but a brittle inexperienced lineup faltered under pressure and you cant blame the captain for their inadequacies i mean pak were well on course but until hauritz took that blinder of a fluke caught and bowled off yousuf it looked like pak may actually do it.
nevertheless people would have viewed yousuf alot differently had we won something in that tour but everything was against him, the management of ijaz butt (remember him) half the side were new or we now know were in with bookies.

So i do feel for yousuf, as one of the few genuinely honest guys in the team he deserved better and ofcourse being in the team for such a long time and being a world class and consistent performer he rightly should aspire to lead the team which is what all players should aspire to. Whether he still has it in him to fight for a spot is another matter though.

[Savak]

Yousaf's captaincy at Sydney summed up his personality, totally defensive and passionless. His captaincy was an insult to every Pakistani that day. Anyone with a remote brain cell, fundamental understanding of the game would have captained the team in a much better fashion that day.

[ElRaja]

Originally Posted by Abid Z i can understand what you are saying but ultimately i disagree with you both on point of fact and sentiment. firstly i think we can all agree that it was criminal for hussey and siddle to get to a lead of over 150 and that was partly due to awful fielding, keeping and field placements for which yes yousuf gets some blame but not all. after all aamir dropping hussey or akmal letting him off three times cant be blamed on the captain. coming on to the batting pak should easily have made those runs but a brittle inexperienced lineup faltered under pressure and you cant blame the captain for their inadequacies i mean pak were well on course but until hauritz took that blinder of a fluke caught and bowled off yousuf it looked like pak may actually do it. nevertheless people would have viewed yousuf alot differently had we won something in that tour but everything was against him, the management of ijaz butt (remember him) half the side were new or we now know were in with bookies. So i do feel for yousuf, as one of the few genuinely honest guys in the team he deserved better and ofcourse being in the team for such a long time and being a world class and consistent performer he rightly should aspire to lead the team which is what all players should aspire to. Whether he still has it in him to fight for a spot is another matter though.

the point i was getting at is that the captains personality permeates through the team, if yousuf was consistantly this satisfied with non achievement how could he honestly motivate a team to out perform its capibilities.

i totally appreciate your point about the dodgy players, the batting, etc, but what really got me is when he said he was satisfied with running australia close, that is a very negative attitude to have.

[Abid Z]

i think its a case of clutching at straws to find something positive to say about that tour which has to go down as one of the worst in recent memory for on the field performances at least. But yousuf was an inexperienced and very negative captain for sure and i remember Richie Benaud literally laughing at some of his field placements. That aside, when he was captain, half the team wouldnt play properly, he was only appointed by the management under duress as they had banned half the team and he had to face lots of comments by former captains in the media rather than being supported in anyway so the guy deserves a bit of a break. No wonder he disappeared for the last 12 months.

[Genghis]

Yes he wasn't a great captain, but there is doubting how good a batsmen he really was. Pity the way he has been treated as I'm sure he had more to offer the team. Although now as it stands I highly doubt we will ever see him back in pak colours.

Great interview by the way.

[Ironcat]

Good, balanced interview. Much less angry than a few years ago. We can all use some of that treatment...

Shrug about his captaincy skills. I mean, isn't he in the company of the likes of those who retire in the middle of a test match, run away to the sea upon complaint, end up in jails, etc?

[SOSami]

Top interview Saj!

Like the way you really pushed him on the Sydney test and asked questions we've all wanted to ask Yousuf since that game.

Shoaib Akthar

[Amjid Javed]

Excellent interview from a true pakistani legend!

[Zaz]

A good interview from yousuf, agree with most parts apart from sydney of course. That tour was a shambles and sydney a huge huge disappointment


Good to see hes not blaming anyone else like before and neither has grievances - all he wants to do is play fc cricket and prove to people he still has it in him Thats the way it should be - let the bat do the talking

[PakistanCricketForever!]

Bit about Indian bowlers really made me laugh

[BD-fan]

No question about Shoaib Malik?

[farazaidi]

Despite of the class player that he has been, I have always dislike him for this defeatist attitude. His comments about the Sydney test makes you wonder whether we actually wanted to win the test at all or being content at 2nd best.

His true personality came to the fore in that infamous tour and it was a rude awakening. Class player, classless person !

[Bilal7]

Great interview, Hope he gets a proper farewell match atleast.

Surprised that he did not acknowledge Misbah in any of his replies.

[Saurav]

great interview.particularly liked his message about supporting Pak

though surprised no question about spot fixing saga

[Saj]

Regarding the spot fixing saga.

I spoke with Yousuf ahead of the interview and he didn't want to speak about the matter on record.

However ahead of the interview he did say that the matter is really for the players who were involved to answer.

[MenInG]

Anyone missing Yousuf now?

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by MenInG Anyone missing Yousuf now?

As much as Wasim

[waqar goraya]

why not have him as batting consultant??

[khalil1986]

Originally Posted by MR__KHAN__JI As much as Wasim

Exactly, no doubt short term he will be great but will he be still playing in 2015? We all know the answer to that. We need to find suitable replacements and although Yousuf was one of the best we have had there is just no point going back to him now.

This team needs Hammad and Fawad.

[khalil1986]

Originally Posted by waqar goraya why not have him as batting consultant??

Na too much personal feelings and will only cause issues behind the scenes, maybe in 4-5 years time he would be ideal.