All doors still open for Yousuf to comeback: PCB

Karachi, Jun.6 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has kept all doors open for former captain Muhammad Yousuf to come out of retirement and be a part of the national squad.

After revoking the indefinite ban on former skippers Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik, Irfan Qadir, the independent arbitrator hearing appeals of banned players, asked the PCB to reconsider Yousuf's ban.

In reply, the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said the board has already informed Yousuf, who had retired in protest against the indefinite ban imposed on him after Pakistan's disastrous tour of Australia, that he can play for the country if he comes out of retirement.

"Yousuf has not appealed, he has retired. We have sent messages to him through others that if he takes back his retirement he can play for Pakistan again. But he declined that," The News quoted Butt, as saying.

"If he (Yousuf) takes back his retirement he will be welcomed back into the side. He is a great player and has a few more years in him. He has done so well for us and particularly on the last tour of England he was outstanding, so we would definitely be welcomed back," he added.

However, Yousuf himself appears confused about his future.

He has ruled out playing in upcoming Test series against England, but indicated that he might come out of retirement for the series against South Africa, which would be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October.

"I am not sure when I will be ready for international cricket.

The South Africa series is a possibility and I won't rule myself out of that series, but of course things are not always that simple. I need to have a long and hard think about things and then come to a decision," Yousuf had said earlier. (ANI)