Younis Khan and Mohammad Yusuf PCB life ban revoked
Ban and back: High drama in Pak cricket
It came in a matter of a little more than four hours. First came the ban, and then the volte-face. After spelling out a life ban on former captain Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt did a U-turn saying that no such action has been taken at all.
The PCB, on Wednesday morning, almost put an end to international careers of former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, besides imposing a one-year ban on Shoaib Malik as a follow up measure to Pak squad’s disastrous tour Down Under. The action came as a corrective measure after Pakistan were swept away by the Aussie cricketer’s drubbing of the Asian team in all three formats of the game. An enquiry into the defeats by a panel headed by Wasim Bari had mooted bans to former captain Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. The panel also recommended that Yousuf and Younis should no longer be part of the national team. Levy of penalties were also recommended. Strong disciplinary action also mean that Akmal brothers Kamran and Umar, as well as Afridi would be put under a six-month probation and also fined around Rs 2-3 million for indiscipline during the tour.
All these had brought forth an unprecedented stance from the part of the PCB for the first time ever in its history. So many players, most of them proven ones, were being punished at one go.
However, hours later, the PCB top boss did a volte-face, saying no action has been recommended against former skippers Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf. What becomes clear is that the PCB has decided to opt for a softer stance against Khan and Yousuf. The blame was put on the media for having “misinterpreted” the action as a life ban. According to a statement issued to the media, PCB clarified that there was no specified term in the recommendation for Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf and that these players will be considered for selection for the national team as and when the PCB deems appropriate.
The U-turn by the PCB may be seen in the context of the upcoming World Twenty20 Championships. Team composition for the tourney is indeed a matter of concern. If the senior players were banned for life, team selection would result in disaster, it is being felt. Ijaz Butt seems to have contemplated seriously on this, and taking into account the people’s reaction that was to come if the ban was made real, the volte-face may be seen as something that was sure to have happened sooner or later.