KARACHI-
Upset at being dropped from the ODI side, Pakistan’s senior batsman and former captain Younis Khan on Friday lambasted the selectors at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and said they should be held accountable if they fail to build a new team for the World Cup in February next year.
A visibly angry Younis, who was dropped from the one-day squad for the series against Australia, told reporters that he was willing to step aside from the national team for the next six months.
“If they say I have no future than I will step aside in all formats don’t pick me even for Tests. I am willing to step aside for five months before the World Cup. Let them make a new team but if they don’t succeed than the selectors should be held accountable,” he said.
Younis, 36, a veteran of Pakistan cricket with 91 Test and 254 one-day appearances, said he was angry because of the way he was treated by the selectors and Board.
“I am upset at the treatment meted out to senior players. How can Moin Khan (chief selector) say I am not fit for ODI cricket. ”
“On what basis did they judge me? If I am 36 does it means I should shoot myself? Can’t 30 plus players perform in international cricket? All my life I have given more than 100 percent for Pakistan cricket and this is how they treat me,” he fumed.
Younis further stated that all the talk about building a new team while not giving respect to seniors was not acceptable.
“If they say this is my fault. I will advice the youngsters not to play for Pakistan, don’t even think of playing for Pakistan, they kicked out a great like Mohammad Yousuf, Miandad left crying, Inzamam left crying. This is how seniors are treated.”
Younis, a regular in the Test side, was dropped from the ODI squad after he was recalled for this format for last month’s series against Sri Lanka but played in only the first match before returning home due to the death of his nephew.