Yousuf called for fitness test

[Savak]

Yousuf called for fitness test

PTI | Apr 23, 2012, 10.37PM IST

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has been told to appear for a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy on Tuesday, indicating that his international career is still not over.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said that national team coach Dav Whatmore, after consulting the chief selector, has decided to put Yousuf through a fitness test.

"Yousuf has been practicing at the national academy for the last one week and Whatmore wants to know whether the 37-year-old batsman is still fit enough to play at the top level," a source said.

Besides Yousuf, the coach has called discarded stumper-batsman Kamran Akmal for the fitness test in which Umar Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Aizaz Cheema, Mohammad Irfan and Sohail Tanvir have also been asked to appear.

"Whatmore and fielding coach Julian Fountain recently conducted fitness tests of all the players and those who could not attend the first session have been asked to appear tomorrow," the source said.

Yousuf has not played for Pakistan since 2010 despite being one of the country's top batsmen in Tests and one-day internationals. He has scored 7530 runs in 90 Tests and 9720 runs in 288 one-dayers with a total of 39 international centuries.

Last week, Yousuf had said he's still confident of serving the country for a few more years.

"I am ready to play for Pakistan anytime whenever the selectors want me because there is no doubt whatever I am today is because of Pakistan," he had said.

Another source said that Whatmore was of the view that some of the senior players, who were discarded by the selectors in recent times, could still serve Pakistan cricket if their fitness level was up to the required mark for international cricket.

"We have to wait and see because there are number of players who fit into all three formats of the game."

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...w/12841921.cms

[bmwduran]

how many lives for Yusuf?

[Ironcat]

If nothing else, see if they can bring him in as a batting coach (under Dav). All three of U Akmal, Azhar, and Asad learnt their trade the best with him at the other end.

[JellyBro]

Dav is clearly weighing his options. Its' obvious he isn't too impressed with the current lot of batsmen . Tsk tsk

[ace4rmspace]

Guess it can't hurt can it ... other than the old man himself ...

[pakistanalltheway]

Originally Posted by bmwduran how many lives for Yusuf?

Less than Malik for sure

[Bullet Drive]

Good for M.Irfan to be there. He needed more chances. Imagine him in SA!

[Down2Earth]

good to see that our cricket is moving in the right direction with yousuf and kamran back in contention

[Fawad2010]

If he is fit AND whatmore thinks he's worth sticking with, only then get him in!

[sachin__]

What happened to Azhar Ali...I thought he is a decent prospect.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777

[miandadrules]

Originally Posted by pakistanalltheway Less than Malik for sure

It sounds like Whatmore is keen on recalling Malik. What a travesty! I had such high regard for Whatmore too.

[Inziquicksingle]

Great news. Looked in good shape in the video.

[~Red Devil~]

If Yousuf does make a comeback Atleast we will have a chance to see the legend once again and he deserves a better send off as well It will be better to see him take a proper retirement rather than just disappearing.

[justbetter]

would love to know the beep test results of the pakistan team and compare them to others

[Usman]

A fit Yousuf would be a fantastic addition to our fragile odi side. He would also be a good replacement for Taufeeq in the test line-up, with Azhar opening.

[ecstatic_freak]

Thats PCB for you, we have a funny selection criteria, a history of shambolic decisions, We know we have quality players but we keep them out for some " strange " reasons and then bring 'em back when they have lost that something special <<<<< Yousaf, Saeed, Malik, Waqar, Latif, Razzaq, Akhtar, Inzamam, Younis.

[AdeelSabih]

Let's call Saeed Anwar and Inzimam-ul-Haq too.

[wrongun]

Whatmore is simply making the largest possible pool of top players to select the best from.

He wants choices and competition for spots and strong reserves ready to go in case of injury/poor form.

[Canistani Hero]

Whatmore wants variety variety is what he shall get

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by bmwduran how many lives for Yusuf?

A world class Test and ODI batsmen and your questioning his possible re-inclusion?

[Zamee]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed A world class Test and ODI batsmen and your questioning his possible re-inclusion?

What more do u expect from circus cricket fans??

[Amjid Javed]

Even at his current age Yousaf is a class apart from any current batsmen we have in ODIs.

Hes would also strengthen the test side aswell!

[Shayan]

Dave Whatmore is showing he is an utmost professional coach, something Pakistani fans may not be used to, hence the reactions in this thread.

He is starting with a clean slate. First and foremost he is making sure all the players are of an adeqate standard of fitness, irrespective of their age, and then he will decide on the best squad based on what he sees.

It's exactly the right attitude to have.

[Janglee7789]

In my opinion instead of M. Yousaf ,
Shoiab malik should be given another chance as he iz much younger

[Sunny786]

Originally Posted by Shayan Dave Whatmore is showing he is an utmost professional coach, something Pakistani fans may not be used to, hence the reactions in this thread. He is starting with a clean slate. First and foremost he is making sure all the players are of an adeqate standard of fitness, irrespective of their age, and then he will decide on the best squad based on what he sees. It's exactly the right attitude to have.

Yeah, he's doing what all coaches should be doing. Don't know why everyone's discussing this as if this is something new. This is how the best XI should be chosen.

[LegCutter]

Originally Posted by Janglee7789 In my opinion instead of M. Yousaf , Shoiab malik should be given another chance as he iz much younger

My nephew is 8 years old. If young age is the criteria for selection, then surely my nephew should be considered above and over all others.

[Fireworks11]

Age is only a number, you are as old as you think you are - Thought process dictates approach to life.

Wonderful player, his return should be welcomed.

[carbon11]

Originally Posted by Janglee7789 In my opinion instead of M. Yousaf , Shoiab malik should be given another chance as he iz much younger

his best days are behind him, not the all rounder he used to be. i remember his brilliant stint at Gloucestershire looked a very good player athlete then but that was 10 yrs ago when he was a promising player.

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by Janglee7789 In my opinion instead of M. Yousaf , Shoiab malik should be given another chance as he iz much younger

So we should recall a young player who cant bat, rather then recalled a world class batsmen whose 38!

great idea

[Janglee7789]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed So we should recall a young player who cant bat, rather then recalled a world class batsmen whose 38! great idea

well you can adjust both these players but for that you have to keep misbah out, who still has about 1 year cricket left in him.

[Janglee7789]

"It is a strange and unheard of situation here. I have never found myself in such a position before in my career," Muhammad Yousuf.

[the Great Khan]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed Even at his current age Yousaf is a class apart from any current batsmen we have in ODIs. Hes would also strengthen the test side aswell!

this..he could easily play agianst the pop gun attacks in the world currently..would love to see him take dinda, and the bengalis apart..the guy could also play agains the windies, england, and NZ..also the lankans wouldnt trouble him other than maybe herath but i doubt that too..a 38 yr old clkass act could easily play in our ODI side and help the youngsters..

[Zaz]

I think this is a step back. Yes yousuf was world class but what is the point of recalling a 38 year old player that last played nearly 2 years back?

[BoomBoomCricket]

Why not just bring back Miandad

[786warrior]

Originally Posted by Zaz I think this is a step back. Yes yousuf was world class but what is the point of recalling a 38 year old player that last played nearly 2 years back?

Please, if I may be so bold, "a 38 year old has been"

Only backward thinking like this exists in Pak land and probably Somalia

[Janglee7789]

Originally Posted by LegCutter My nephew is 8 years old. If young age is the criteria for selection, then surely my nephew should be considered above and over all others.

but your nephew should play an inning of brilliance against india like Shoaib Malik did!!!!!!!!!!

[iBaig]

Any one can score big against india. Don't compare Malik with Yousuf please

[alberto]

Mohammed yousuf is an improvement on all the lame ODI batsman we have. He can help us getting to 250 on a more consistent basis

[The Muppets XI]

I can just imagine the 2212 Pakistani team. The PCB will still be relying on the current crop of 'Seniors' being part of the playing XI after numerous retirements/unretirements. All because they didn't want to invest in new talent but instead went for the short term option of going back to the same old 'Seniors'.

After all how many youngsters under 25 have got their first chance to be part of the playing XI since the current chairman got in.

[miandadrules]

Yousaf should never have never have been dropped in the first place. Some will say he has no one but himself to blame and to some extent that is true.

There are a few things that we should keep in mind.

1. He is one of only two world class batsmen in Pakistan

2. He has a history or erratic behaviour which could rear it's ugly head.

3. To all those who seem to think he is going to solve all our batting problems should keep in mind that he rarely scores when it matters. He is not the guy you turn when the going gets tough, especially in ODIs. He began to show grit in that great 2006 season but on the whole he is great on the eye but you don't actually get great value for money when it comes to results.

[hasanmehmoodkhan]

I think he could replace younis in ODI line up

[Inziquicksingle]

Any results yet?

[love_Pakistan_sialkot]

Originally Posted by bmwduran how many lives for Yusuf?

Add Haris Sohail instead of Yousaf...He can be a good middle order asset for pakistan.. and can play longer for pakistan because he is very young at the age of 23 instead of 38 like yousaf.

[cricpak]

He Passed the TEST !!!!!!!!

[Inziquicksingle]

Originally Posted by cricpak He Passed the TEST !!!!!!!!

source? link?

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by Janglee7789 well you can adjust both these players but for that you have to keep misbah out, who still has about 1 year cricket left in him.

We can dump YK from ODIs and also at worst remove Taufeeq from tests and open with Azhar Ali and bring MY into middle order.

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by hasanmehmoodkhan I think he could replace younis in ODI line up

Think? He should!

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by BoomBoomCricket Why not just bring back Miandad

Really stupid comment, which makes no point what so ever!

MY is still a more than capable batsmen and far from past his best!

If the recall an Oldie comment was jibed at that it was really stupid!

[the Great Khan]

Originally Posted by miandadrules Yousaf should never have never have been dropped in the first place. Some will say he has no one but himself to blame and to some extent that is true. There are a few things that we should keep in mind. 1. He is one of only two world class batsmen in Pakistan 2. He has a history or erratic behaviour which could rear it's ugly head. 3. To all those who seem to think he is going to solve all our batting problems should keep in mind that he rarely scores when it matters. He is not the guy you turn when the going gets tough, especially in ODIs. He began to show grit in that great 2006 season but on the whole he is great on the eye but you don't actually get great value for money when it comes to results.

sorry but history of erratic behaviour? what is it with pakistani gossip, rumour mongering and specualtion that eventually becomes fact. we seem to be masters at it.

look he got treated like a piece of crap by naseem ashraf in 2007 when he was the ebst batsman in the world. fter youve worked your butt off for your country for over a decade and never caused any major problems , the last thing you expect is getting crapped on because you have become religious! that was the bottom line. Now im sure many remember the threads on pp in those days.

the secular brigade were out in force with their vitriol against the team. "why dont they forget prayer and play cricket?" "Inzi the mullah dictator" " drop these dari walay etc" "they murdered woolmer" the propaganda was relentless!

and then we got the ICL. He did what any disgruntled employee would do, showed some integrity, avoided a major confrontation and just moved on. It was the PCB'S perogative to ignore the BCCI and not ban its own players. They failed to defend them and instead followed the lead of a foreign board that is our enemy (lets not mince words) and banned half the damn team!

then he accepts the captaincy to help his country while he is being sabotaged by Butt and co (just watch the aussie tour) and he cointinues in the most difficult of circumstances. nd ultimatley is humiliated by the board and selection commitee by being sacked effectively while a series is still going on. (cue ball biting etc).

now we have the rumours and discussions of the oath taking but lets deal with that too. He openly says he was upset at YK for dropping him for no reason when we won the first ODI against the kiwis. he was angry that once again he was being singled out for no reason. Insecurity does settle in. He didnt confront yk but simply asked why he was dropped.

the fixers using this vulnerable moment pounced and roped him into their mutiny. That was the only blemish on him through 15
years of cricket in book.

and then when called upon again , comes off a plane and helps pakistan to a historic victory at the oval showing his class!

and then we shove him in the gutter again. after all he's only the son of a rickshaw driver and isnt really worth our attention. he also comitted the ultimate sin in the eyes of the secular elite which is to revert to Islam after being a chrisitan minority player in the side. Yes erratic behaviour indeed!!

[the Great Khan]

the man is a legend and we should bow our ehads in shame at the way we have treated this son of the soil who worked his way from nothing and became a legend!! shameless nation!

[saj001]

Still the best batter in Pakistan.

[Blistering Barnacle]

Good to hear. Moyo has been my fav Pak batsman since his debut.

[munna_]

he's still the best batsman in Pakistan and I'm sure he would still do a better job than most of the dashers and draggers and strugglers we've been tolerating in the team

...and every team needs one WC Grace!

[khalil1986]

He would be great in ODI'S also he could work wonders with the young guns as the likes of Azhar Ali could learn the art of rotating strike from Yousuf who was just as good as the likes of Inzi and Miandad.

[Zaz]

Im sorry but this is a poor decision, the guy has been poor with the bat since 2007, hes got no competitive cricket behind him, hes got a history of causing problems and is 38 years old

We need to start looking forward not back

[attock]

I would pick Muhammed Yousuf over Younis Khan and Misbah Ul Haq in ODI's.....

[khalil1986]

Originally Posted by attock I would pick Muhammed Yousuf over Younis Khan and Misbah Ul Haq in ODI's.....

Problem with Misbah he is captain (rightly so) however as a player alone Misbah should not be selected in LOI either.

[the Great Khan]

Originally Posted by Zaz Im sorry but this is a poor decision, the guy has been poor with the bat since 2007, hes got no competitive cricket behind him, hes got a history of causing problems and is 38 years old We need to start looking forward not back

here we go again, the slander continues. His history of team problesm involve a 1 spat in 15 years of cricket. compared to the otehrs thats almost angelic!

plz stop this nonsense!

coming to his supposed selection if it happens, I think he would make a good addition to the squad and could help the youngsters immensly. Cant do any worse than YK has been.

the way he has been treated is shameful and the lack of respect some give him merely shows their prejudice.

[munda_khi]

fitness, form, temperament and technique are the selection criteria regardless of age.

[Fuzzy]

http://www.brecorder.com/sports/cric...-the-bat-.html

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan former captain Muhammad Yousuf has cleared his fitness test and has also impressed Coach Dav Whatmore with his form with the bat.

Muhammad Yousuf gave a fitness test held at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in his bid to revive his international cricket career.

An official at the NCA was quoted as saying that Yousuf had cleared his fitness test to the satisfaction of the national team`s coach Dav Whatmore, fielding coach Julian Fountain and other support staff.

"Yousuf has been working hard on his fitness and that showed when he took the test," the official said adding that Yousuf`s trainer Irfan Sheikh had done a good job as the senior cricketer is looking much fitter and leaner.

"Yousuf has impressed Whatmore with his form with the bat in the nets he has had at the NCA in the last two weeks," the official said.

Whatmore has planned to have a conditioning camp before the national team leaves for Sri Lanka in late May and also some practice matches among the camp probables.

"Yousuf would definitely get a chance to play in them and prove his form with the bat," the official said.

However Yousuf said his trainer has been working very hard on him. "I have been working in the gym, swimming and jogging besides spending time in the nets. I am feeling good as far as my fitness is concerned and the ball is also now coming on to the bat well," Yousuf, who's turning 38 in August, said.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said Yousuf would have to play domestic matches to be considered for selection.

Yousuf has played 90 Tests and 288 One-day Internationals. He last played for Pakistan in late 2010 while his last domestic appearance was during the National Super Eights Twenty-20 competition for Lahore in Faisalabad in July 2011. Since then he has not played any domestic matches for any team.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012

[Ironcat]

Try him out as an opener, coach!

[Strike!]

Our domestic season doesn't start in quote a while. What would be the point of waiting even further then?

[LegCutter]

If Yousuf really wanted to return so bad, he shouldnt have skipped our premier Domestic tournament, the Faysal Bank T20.

[Inziquicksingle]

Originally Posted by LegCutter If Yousuf really wanted to return so bad, he shouldnt have skipped our premier Domestic tournament, the Faysal Bank T20.

Youre not being serious are you...

This is great news. The legend is still going to be one of our best ODI bats and should be given a chance to make it to 100 Tests as well.

[bforme]

LAHORE - Former Pakistan captain and senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf cleared the first hurdle in his bid to revive his international cricket career as he passed a fitness test held at the National Cricket Academy.
Sources in the academy said that Yousuf had cleared his fitness test to the satisfaction of the national team's coach Dav Whatmore, fielding coach Julian Fountain and other support staff. "Yousuf has been working hardon his fitness with a personal trainer, Irfan Sheikh for the last few months and that showed when he took the test," a source said.
The source said that Yousuf's trainer had done a good job as the senior cricketer is looking much fitter and leaner. "He has passed his fitness test, plus he has continued to impress Whatmore with his form with the bat in the nets he has had at the academy in the last two weeks," he said. According to thesource, Whatmore now planned to not only have a conditioning camp before the nationalteam leaves for Sri Lanka in late May, but also have some practice matches among the campprobables and Yousuf would definitely get a chance to play in them and prove his form with the bat.
Yousuf said that he did not know the result of the fitness test, which included several phases, but confirmed he had been made to work hard by his trainer. "I have been working in the gym, swimming and jogging besides spending time in the nets. I am feeling good as far as my fitness is concernedand the ball is also now coming on to the bat well," Yousuf, who will turn 38 in August, said.
The general perception in the Pakistani cricket is that if Whatmore has taken Yousuf'sfitness test, he definitely has some plans for the former captain in his mind as there are some tough assignments lined up for the team in the next 12 months.
But chief selector Iqbal Qasim has made it clear that Yousuf would have to play domesticmatches to be considered for selection."Yousuf has appeared in the fitness tests and that is good. It is a good sign that he is practicing again but our criteria is clear, players even if they are seniors must appear in domestic cricket matches to be considered for selection," Qasim told PTI. Insisting that criteria for selecting players remained their form and fitness in domestic cricket, Qasim said: "We have to see how much domestic cricket he has played." Yousuf, a veteran of 90Tests and 288 One-day Internationals, had last played for his country in late 2010, while his last domestic appearance was during the National Super Eights T20 competition for Lahore in Faisalabad in July 2011. Since then he has not played any domestic matches for any team.
Yousuf told reporters that he was confident of reviving his international career and perform at the highest level for a few more years. "I have tried to maintain my fitness even while I was not playing cricket. I have given my fitness test. Now the selectors and board have to let me know about the results and decide what to do," Yousuf said.
Yousuf, who has been practicing at the NCA under the watchful eyes of Pakistan national team coach Dav Whatmore for the last two weeks, said he had started to get his old touch back and was feeling confident again."I have enjoyed training and practicing with Whatmore. The urge is still there to play international cricket."
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...s-fitness-test

[Lalafied]

fantastic news, Yousuf bhai can still be a beast in test cricket and possibly ODIs...

@ Iqbal Qasim for saying Moyo needs to play domestic cricket...I mean a world class batsman who has impressed the coach with his fitness & form with the bat needs to prove himself in the useless domestic cricket? idiotic comment from the selector and if there's one thing Zaka sahab has done wrong in his tenure so far is bringing back has beens selectors who have no clue about anything

he should be an automatic selection for Test squad and should play ahead of the likes of Shafiq & Azhar...