Pakistan pace bowler Rana Naved ul Hasan denied that there had been any altercation involving him and batsman Mohammad Yousuf ahead of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match between WAPDA and Rawalpindi.

by Saj Sadiq

01 December 2010

Pakistan pace bowler Rana Naved ul Hasan denied that there had been any altercation involving him and batsman Mohammad Yousuf ahead of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match between WAPDA and Rawalpindi.

Speaking to PakPassion.net ; 32 year old Rana who has represented Pakistan on 87 occasions, explained that Yousuf was unhappy with the stance of the WAPDA management and that led to the veteran batsman walking out on WAPDA and joining Lahore Shalimar.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board had advised Yousuf one month's rest after he was unable to play in the Test series versus South Africa. They obviously didn't want Yousuf to risk his injury and to make his injury worse. The report from the Board sent to the WAPDA management stated that he (Yousuf) required one month's rest and the WAPDA management adhered to that decision."

Yousuf only featured for Pakistan in one of the 50 over encounters against South Africa recently, before returning to Pakistan with a groin injury. Rana clarified that it was the WAPDA team management who implemented the PCB decision and that led to Yousuf being unhappy and leaving WAPDA.

"The report about me and Yousuf having an altercation are incorrect. I didn't even speak to Yousuf about his decision and only found out after he had left the squad. There is no way that as captain of the team, I would want a player of Yousuf's stature to leave."

Yousuf's disagreement with WAPDA led to him signing for Lahore Shalimar and whilst WAPDA completed a narrow one wicket win, Yousuf on debut managed two scores of zero and lasted a total of only 5 deliveries. To add insult to Yousuf's injury, the veteran of 90 Test matches was on Tuesday ommitted from the Pakistan Test squad announced by Chief Selector Mohsin Khan for the tour of New Zealand that commences later this month.

Rana also clarified that former Pakistan pace bowler Shabbir Ahmed's reason for leaving WAPDA at the same time as Mohammad Yousuf was not linked to the Yousuf incident.

"Shabbir had a disagreement during practice and that led to a difference of opinion. He's an experienced cricketer and it's a loss for WAPDA, but he had made up his mind and decided to move on."

Rana - who last featured for Pakistan in a Twenty20 encounter against Australia at Melbourne in February of this year - feels that he still has something to offer for Pakistan and hoped that he would get another opportunity to play international cricket.

"I'm in great shape, and taking wickets for WAPDA. I'm enjoying the responsibility of captaining the team and helping the younger players around me. I think I can still play international cricket and hope that the opportunity of playing for Pakistan has not passed me by."

Rana will be leaving for Australia later this month to take part in the Aussie Big Bash where he will feature for Tasmania, after a successful first season with the Australian side.

"I'll be heading for Australia on 21st December to take part in the pre tournament training. The competition starts on 30th December and I'm really excited at the thought of taking part in the Aussie Big Bash again. It was a great experience last time around and it's extremely tough and high quality cricket."