KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan is expected to re-join Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Pakistan Cup after he had a telephonic conversation with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan on Monday.
He had bowed out of the tournament in Faisalabad after a row with umpires. Younis had refused to attend the meeting of the match referee.
“Yes, Younis contacted and told us that he would be joining the team tomorrow,” a KP team official told this correspondent on Monday.
PCB said on Monday that Younis Khan had made a telephonic contact with Chairman PCB Shaharyar Khan today. “He felt sorry for the incident that happened during the Pakistan Cup in Faisalabad,” PCB said in a press release. “He apprised the chairman about his willingness to participate in the remainder of the tournament,” the PCB said.
Younis said that being an advisor of Chairman PCB on cricketing affairs, it was obligatory for him to participate in the premier one-day domestic tournament in the larger interest of the game.
After he guided KP to a two-run win over Punjab last week, Younis quit his side for the remaining event in protest after he was served with a charge-sheet by match referee for criticising the umpiring standard in the five-team affair which is meant to pick the best possible teams for the tour of England in summer.
The two nations will play four Tests, five One-day Internationals and one T20 game from July to late September.
Sources said Younis refused to receive the charge-sheet when it was delivered at his room.
In the absence of Younis, KP crushed Balochistan by 74 runs in their third outing on Sunday night under the leadership of Ahmed Shehzad.
It remains uncertain if the KP team management will be able to accommodate Younis for their show against Sindh on Wednesday (tomorrow).
KP have already opted for replacement of Younis and two unfit players, Test pacer Rahat Ali and Naved Yasin.
Both Rahat and Naved were on Monday sent home after they were advised by the doctor to take a two-week rest.
The prolific batsman Naved has a stomach problem, while Rahat, who enabled KP to a two-run victory over Punjab by taking 4-42, is suffering from a back problem.
The PCB has approved the names of left-handed batsman Israrullah, middle order batsman Adil Amin and Akbar Badshah as replacement for the trio.
These players left Peshawar on Monday for joining the team.
“The PCB has approved these replacements and we are in a fix, not knowing what to do about Younis,” a KP team official said.
“We will have to ask the PCB as the rules could create complications,” the official said.
Teams featuring in the Pakistan Cup have been selected by their captains. Quitting his side at a stage when his team needed his services direly has left a question-mark over Younis’s commitment as he is also acting as an advisor to the PCB. Younis scored 63 runs in the two matches he played.