Mohammad Yousuf
Mohammad Yousuf

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who was just named in the 15 member squad announced by the PCB to tour West Indies is back in news – the Pakistan cricketer, according to family sources is now in Delhi, India to play cricket – what that effectively means is that Yousuf is rejoining the ICL. It will be interesting to see if he does play in the ongoing second edition of the rebel Indian Cricket League, and if he does, for which team.

So far there has been no confirmation from any of the parties concerned – no word from Yousuf and none from the PCB, ICL or the BCCI. If Yousuf does indeed take part in the ICL again, it is almost sure that that will be the end of his international career as a Pakistan cricketer.

The ICL had already filed a case against Yousuf for deserting the ICL after having signed a contract; while that case may well be withdrawn, Yousuf can expect fresh cases against him from the PCB. One hope for the person in the middle of the storm could be the statement by the new chief of the PCB, Izaj Butt. Butt had given hope to the many Pakistan players in the ICL saying that the ‘bans on the ICL players’ has to be relooked into as he doesn’t see any difference between the IPL and the ICL.