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| November 28, 2005 | Monday | Shawwal 25, 1426 |
Grieving Younis pulls out of final Test
LAHORE, Nov 27: Pakistan’s hopes to win the Test series against England received a setback on Sunday as vice-captain Younis Khan has pulled out of third Test, which starts at the Qadhafi Stadium from Tuesday, because of his brother’s death.
Pakistan are 1-0 up in the three-match series by winning the first Test in Multan by 22 runs. The second Test at Faisalabad ended in a draw.
Younis’ brother Sharif Khan’s sudden death in Ukraine on Saturday night forced the reliable middle-order batsman to pull out from the Test.
The enforced absence of Younis is a severe below to the home side as it has already lost Shahid Afridi, who is facing a three-match ban imposed by the ICC for scuffing the pitch in the second Test at Faisalabad, medium-pacer Shabbir Ahmed, who along with all-rounder Shoaib Malik has been called for chucking in the Multan Test.
“Younis’s omission is a great blow for us before the crucial third Test and the entire team management condoled with the vice-captain on the untimely demise of his brother,” Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer told reporters on Sunday.
“However, his absence will provide chance to a youngster and I hope, the replacement batsman delivers,” the coach added while refusing to speculate further.
It was likely that the team management would bank on the present lot of 14 players when deciding the final line-up for the Lahore Test.
“We had a little discussion over this subject but a final decision is yet to be taken,” Woolmer said.
However, the coach said that he had trust in the available squad. The prospects of both Asim Kamal and Hasan Raza playing in the final Test are bright.
If selected, Asim will be appearing for the first time in the current series while Hasan may get a second chance after his horrendous comeback at Multan.
Woolmer was also satisfied with the performance of paceman Mohammad Sami.
“All the boys have done a wonderful job in the Test series so far and Sami is working hard and there is no need of criticism.”
Asked how much he was hopeful of Pakistan’s winning streak in Test matches at the Qadhafi Stadium.
“I have no interest in counting how many times Pakistan won at this ground.
“The main point at this stage is to win the series and a lot would depend on the result of the final Test,” he said.
He said that he would be extremely happy for Pakistan winning the Test series since it would be the first under his guidance.
Woolmer, however, had different views than those of captain Inzamamul Haq regarding the status of the pitch, saying still two days remain and it was premature to determine the pitch status at this stage.
Inzamam predicted on Friday the pitch was likely to be friendly towards batsmen and spinners.
Meanwhile, chief selector Wasim Bari told Dawn that he had talked to the team management soon after the news of the death of Younis’s brother was received on Saturday night.
“We have talked over the possibility of some other player under the present circumstances and the team management may inform us any time on Sunday and then the selectors will consider the request,” Bari commented.
Bari admitted that Younis’s absence would make a difference and the remaining players would have to do more work to come up to expectations.
“Younis is very important member of the side and he had proved his worth on a number of occasions.
“The absence of such a batsman definitely leaves a huge void,” the chief selector said.
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