Yousuf eyes int’l comeback

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf, who returned from after a successful brief stint with Lashings World XI Cricket Club, is now eyeing the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) as he strives to make his international comeback. Yousuf has been a prolific scorer for Pakistan but his absence from the domestic circuit forced the selectors not to consider him for the national squad. The experienced middle order batsman, who last played for Pakistan in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa in November 2010, resurfaced prior to the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka when he trained under the supervision of coach Dav Whatmore. The 37-year old declared himself fit to return to the national fold and but the selectors decided against including him for the tour, citing his long absence from domestic cricket. The veteran batsman scored two centuries in the three matches he played for Lashings, including a 121-run knock against Rockhampton, sources report. “It’s been a long time since I played competitive cricket. Although I was confident about my form before the tour, the two centuries have helped me a lot. I felt fit and comfortable during the matches despite playing long innings. “The stint has lifted my morale and I will continue the struggle to make a comeback,” Yousuf said.