Galle knock propells Yousuf to top spot in cricket rankings

October 3rd, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - Middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf has said Pakistan would be favourites against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy's semifinal. Yousuf said his side has played brilliant cricket in the tournament so far due to which the morale of the team was high.

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.

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 24th, 2009 DUBAI - England off-spinner Graeme Swann has jumped no fewer than 17 places and into the top 10 in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers for the first time in his career. The 30-year-old took eight wickets in the Oval Test match underlying his position as England's top slow bowler and moving to 10th in the latest rankings.

August 13th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has stepped in support of middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf, saying he needs time to settle down after staging a comeback following a long lay-off from international cricket. "He is back in the team and before that he was out of international cricket for quite a while.

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 30th, 2009 LAHORE - With the return of middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf in the team, the Pakistan team management is undecided over how to utilize all rounder Shoaib Malik, and is now thinking of pushing the former captain up the batting order. Malik, who has been in indifferent form with the bat in the recent past, may be asked to open the batting with Salman Butt in the first Test against Sri Lanka, which begins from July 4 in Galle, team sources said.

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 27th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has awarded mid-term central contracts to all rounder Abdul Razzaq and middle order batsman Mohammed Yousuf, both of whom had terminated their respective contracts with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier. While, Razzaq made a dream come back in the Pakistan team through his balanced all round performance in the ICC Twenty20 Championship, Yousuf still has to prove a point.

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.

June 6th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf has said he is eagerly waiting to return to the national team. He however said, it was upto the selection committee to decide whether to include him in the team or not.

May 30th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has declared middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq eligible for selection after both players terminated their respective contracts with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). "Both players have resigned from the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and the ICL management has accepted the duo's resignations.

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).