August 20, 2007	Monday	Sha’aban 6, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 19: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi remained optimistic on Sunday that senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf would join the training camp, which starts at the Gaddafi Stadium from Tuesday.

Yousuf, who along with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was overlooked for next month’s Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa, has been asked to attend the short camp on a special invitation.

Saying that no further player had signed the central contract with the PCB, Naghmi hoped that Younis Khan would sign it by Wednesday, soon after joining the camp.

“The PCB is in constant touch with Younis, but so far he has not shown any reluctance towards signing the contract,” he said.

The PCB had offered the central contract to 20 players, but only 16 have signed it. Among the remaining four are Yousuf, Razzaq and Younis, while Imran Farhat had asked to be released from the central contract after signing it.

Asked if the PCB would offer the central contract to any other player, Naghmi said that the PCB had not taken any decision on it.