April 24, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 06, 1428

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LAHORE, April 23: Prolific middle-order batsman Younis Khan will not be available for the forthcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, to be played in Abu Dhabi from May 10.

Chairman national selection committee, Salahuddin Ahmed told Dawn on Monday that Younis had confirmed his unavailability for the event due to his county stint in England.

Although the selectors had named 39 probables for the training camp which commences from April 28, they were awaiting a confirmation from Younis which was finally received on Monday.

Besides the Peshawar-born player, who recently refused PCB’s offer to captain the Pakistan team, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, all-rounders Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Azhar Mahmood and Yasir Arafat are busy playing county cricket in England and are also not available for the Abu Dhabi series.

Moreover, the chief selector said a few more of the 39 players named for the camp have requested exemption since they are bound by league cricket contracts in England.

“Few players including pacer Shahid Nazir have asked the selection committee to exempt them due to their prior engagements in league cricket in England and we may allow that for the time being,” said Salahuddin.