Why I did not take up lucrative ICL offer:Younis

Why I did not take up lucrative ICL offer

Aug 22, 2007 | Younis Khan

I have just left England for Pakistan, after almost a full county season, and I must say I have had a really nice time and my all-round game has improved very much.

We were top for around three to four months so that shows we have won a lot of matches. I have got along with all the guys well, especially young Adil Rashid who was my driving partner, and the captain and the coach. I don’t know if I will be returning but that depends on the club and on my future commitments.

My batting has developed – I made two scores of 200 or more – and I am now a better bowler because of the experience of bowling so many overs in the Championship, one-day games and even Twenty20 cricket. I hope I can get a few more bowling opportunities now I have made this progress.

I spent a couple of days with Inzamam before I left Leeds and as he was about to replace me in the Yorkshire team. I was really impressed with the shape he was in. He told me he has lost 9kgs and he really looks as fit as I have ever seen him. It’s good for the county and for Pakistan that he is in such good condition.

I am now looking forward to linking up again with Pakistan and the new coach Geoff Lawson. First, I will visit my family in Mardan again before we fly to Kenya for some warm-up matches prior to the Twenty20 World Cup, which should be good fun. I have enjoyed playing the format for Yorkshire, it’s a great crowd-puller.

The other subject I’m sure you are all keen for me to discuss is the ICL and what is happening to me and the Pakistan players.

Well, it is the personal decisions of those players who have chosen to go and I respect their decisions. It is not for me to criticise. I don’t know the details and if it is all signed and sealed but if (Mohammed) Yousuf is going to India and will be banned from playing for Pakistan that will be very disappointing as he is a great player who I have scored many runs with at the crease. I think we are one of the most successful batting combinations in world cricket.

However, if Yousuf and Inzy are not going to be around it does present youngsters with an opportunity. It will be the same when I go. There will still be a Pakistan team when me, Inzy bhai and Yousuf are long gone.

Look how everyone was sad after the 2003 World Cup when Wasim, Waqar, Saeed Anwar retired. We still had a lot of wins afterwards so things do move on.

I was the first Pakistani to reject the Indian Cricket League offer and the reason is I feel a loyalty to my department – Habib Bank – and for Pakistan. I still feel that I have another four or five years of international cricket in me and I don’t want to jeopardise that and be disloyal to Habib Bank by signing for the ICL.

When I have been playing for Pakistan or county cricket in England, Habib Bank have still paid me my salary all year round for the last six or seven years and I want to repay that loyalty they have had in me.

I am not anti-ICL, though. Maybe in the future I will take up their offer. They offered me a lot of money to play and I was very grateful. But until I can be assured that I can play there and still return to play for my country and for my department when they need me – like with county cricket – I cannot go to the ICL.

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thats the right way he is pathan and he knows what a pathan do like i am and all pathans they don't think about money all the time they think about thier country not like some others player who just are hungry for money

Younis isn't even a great one day player, let alone 20/20. let's wait and see how he's gonna perform.

And to think I hated Younis. Hated him for backstabbing ways for playing in England while we won in Sri Lanka ().

Good for you Younis. You realize that loyalty is the most important thing. You have now become my 7th favorite player in the Pakistani set up.

Man, this ICL think is changing me alot...

But until I can be assured that I can play there and still return to play for my country and for my department when they need me – like with county cricket – I cannot go to the ICL.

this is the highlight. ALthough the PCB was wrong in banning the players, and even though the players have a right to sign up fpr the ICL, they should nto have risked not playing for pakistan again. Once again, this is why i think younis is the most patriotic player in the team.

Legend

Perhaps we should install a Pathan captain, Pathan VC and a Pathan coach - because they are obviously so blessed, loyal and patriotic.

Actually, lets get 11 Pathan players in and get rid of all the others - and play all our games in Pathanland!!!

Super-human Pathans - Zindabad!

You seem to be quite fond of pathan super-humanness

sensible and reasoned...and the best cover drive in the game!

"I am not anti-ICL, though. Maybe in the future I will take up their offer."

Indeed a patriot who leaves the door open.

Well Younis you are the main man now !!

You must hold our middle order together whilst we look for new middle order batsmen !!!

I always knew you had a thing for us Pathaans

I don't see anything wrong with that. After he is no longer able to play international cricket, what's wrong with joining the ICL?

Thats a very interesting and valid comment YK makes. I wonder how the departments that employ the likes of Yousuf, Farhat and co have taken the news about ICL? I wonder if they will suspend the contracts and salaries of these players?

Top man Younis. Top man.

i try so hard not make fun of sohaib's comments on many threads, but you couldnt hold urself back could you oxy

Its not being Patha or Punjabi, its his values as a person.

You might wana check Pecker series and you will see Majid Khan ( Pathan) and Imran Khan signing up.

And then Shoaib Akhtar didnt sign either, and i am sure he is not Pathan.

What in the world are you saying? What does thinking about money have to do with what caste you are from or where you are from? Is a person who is not Pathan less hungry for money and how do these two relate? I am seriously confused.

As for Younis Khan, that is just fantastic. Keep it up YK, you are a gem.

that just sums up one of the qualities of pathans

Nice to see Inzi putting this much effort for all that money his going to be getting in India ..

a true hero

Is Afridi not superhuman?

Excellent. Razzaq learning something you cry baby.

Hmm! Why it needs to be "After"? If he can play then he should be able to play now too. He should be able to play in both places (ICL and national team) all the time. He, moyo everybody. Can't you not see it is the boards who are creating the dividing lines to keep monopoly on cricket? The sponsorship, the money would be all theirs to loot. I have no other way of explaining. I give up!!

Yousuf wasn't very complimentary to his department in one of his interview. He mentioned that the department made him play for free for a year or so and then he was put on a nominal monthly retainer (can't remember the exact figure but it couldn't have been much over Rs1000). So clearly, he doesn't feel any allegiance to his department.

wasnt it only a short while ago that there were loads of younis haters on these boards saying he shouldnt play a one day international again? where the hell are they now?

different season now. all dummy captain, I will think about playing ODIs is forgotten as anything over couple of months old is too old as too many things can happen in Pakistan cricket by then

dont believe for one minute that the ICL has been set up for some noble cause or to bring the game back to the fans..money pure and simple.

I think both Younus & Afridi have stated that once they are done playing with Pakistan they might join the ICL. I don't see anything worng with that.

I'd be amazed if it was still around then.