Yousuf’ s inclusion could see Malik open batting against Sri Lanka

September 29th, 2009 LAHORE - Impressed by their brilliant performances against India in the ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced cash award of 500,000 rupees each for Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf. Malik and Yousuf were involved in a record fourth wicket partnership of 206 runs which helped Pakistan post an imposing total of 303 for India to chase.

September 27th, 2009 CENTURION - Pakistan middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik has refused to open the innings in case the team management decides to send him up the batting order as the regular openers have not been so successful in the ongoing Champions Trophy, The News reports. According to sources privy to the Pakistani dressing room, Malik is reluctant to open the innings which has forced the team management to drop Misbah-ul Haq in order to accommodate captain Younis Khan.

August 26th, 2009 LAHORE - Experienced middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf has vowed to silence his critics through his performance during the ICC Champions Trophy. Yousuf, who is being criticized for his poor show in the Sri Lanka series, said he is working hard on his weak areas and would give his best during the forthcoming eight nation mega event.

August 20th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan cricket selection committee led by chief selector Iqbal Qasim has decided to get a feedback from coach Intikhab Alam and captain Younis Khan before selecting the 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in South Africa in September. According to sources, Qasim has decided to consult both Alam and Younis Khan before picking the team for the mega event.

August 12th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan captain Younis Khan has defended Mohammad Yousuf in spite of his below-par showing in the recently-concluded one-day series against Sri Lanka, saying that the premier batsman will take his time to adjust to the demands of international cricket. Younis said Wednesday that Yousuf has returned after a gap of over a year, and that there is a big difference between playing the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and international cricket.

July 15th, 2009 DUBAI - India's Gautam Gambhir has moved to the top of ranking in the Reliance Mobile International Cricket Council's rankings for Test batsmen. Gambhir, who climbed two spots, has become the first India batsman in over four years to head the batting rankings after a failure by Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf against Sri Lanka in the second Test saw him drop four places.

July 6th, 2009 KARACHI - Comeback man Mohammad Yousuf rated his century against Sri Lanka in the Galle cricket Test as the most valuable knock in his career. After hitting a superb ton on his return to international cricket on the second day of the first Test Sunday, the Pakistani batsman vowed to continue his prolific run.

June 29th, 2009 KARACHI - Six months after being dumped as Pakistan captain, senior all-rounder Shoaib Malik is struggling to keep his place in Pakistans Test line-up. According to sources, Pakistan team management is finding it increasingly difficult to offer Malik a place in the playing line-up as a genuine all-rounder and might play him as an opener in the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Galle from July 4.

June 28th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said that the fitness of the players would be of prime importance during the Sri Lanka tour. Talking to media persons before leaving for Sri Lanka, Alam highlighted that the players must be more than 100 percent fit to cope -up with difficult weather conditions in the island nation.

June 26th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan captain Younis Khan Friday asked his team to put behind the celebrations of their World Twenty20 triumph and focus on the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka that begins June 27. We will have to leave our World Cup win behind and focus on what is a very tough assignment against Sri Lanka, Younis, who led Pakistan to the World Twenty20 championship win in England earlier this month, said at a reception hosted by Habib Bank Limited (HBL).

June 22nd, 2009 LONDON - The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the forthcoming Sri Lanka tour. Shahid Afiridi has been dropped due to an ankle injury, while experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf and veteran bowler, Abdul Razzaq make their comebacks to the team following an extended hiatus due to their engagement with the "banned" ICL in India.

June 22nd, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq, who snapped their ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), were selected in the 15-member squad to tour Sri Lanka. Yousuf and Razzaq were released by the ICL last month and were eligible for selection in the national team.

May 28th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has said that middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf would be considered for the Test series against Sri Lanka starting from June 27. Yousuf has already submitted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Cricket League (ICL) to the PCB, saying he has terminated his contract with the rebel league.

May 28th, 2009 KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is weighing options of recalling the countrys premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf for this summers tour of Sri Lanka. PCB sources Thursday said Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, will soon hold a meeting in Lahore to discuss the Yousuf issue with the senior officials.

May 27th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf has claimed that the Indian Cricket League (ICL) has given him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play for the country. Yousuf said he had submitted the NOC to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).