KARACHI - : Despite an SOS from captain Mohammad Yousuf to send middle-order batsman Younis Khan to Australia to strengthen the batting order, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not keen on sending the former captain Down Under.

PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt has already clarified that it would be hard to send Younis because of his poor form and said he is short of match practice, as has played only one domestic match in the last two months.

“How does one justify that? But I will be meeting with the national selection committee in Lahore to discuss this request from the team management in Australia,” The Dawn quoted Butt, as saying.

“He didn’t play any matches and neither was he available to us. Despite our attempts we could not locate him neither did he bother to call us back,” Butt added.

One of the PCB officials said that it is unlikely that Younis would be sent to Australia for the remaining two Tests of the three match series.

He said the team management is satisfied with the performance of middle order batsmen like Misbah-ul-Haq and Faisal Iqbal, and believes that the team’s set-up should not be disturbed.

“It is not like the team is losing just because he (Younis) isn’t there. The Pentangular is happening, and that would be a good way for him to play and get some practice. For him to make the Sydney Test is very unlikely now. And who will he replace there? Various batsmen have scored some runs in Melbourne, so it might be unfair to drop any of them,” he said.

He, however, said that Younis could make his come back in the one-day squad in the five-match One-day International series, which will begin in Brisbane from January 22.

Younis had himself opted out of the New Zealand Test tour saying he needed a break from international cricket.

He returned to domestic cricket last week , but failed to regain his form and got out cheaply in both the innings during the final match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. (ANI)