October 02, 2007	Tuesday	Ramazan 19, 1428

KARACHI, Oct 1: Pakistan’s premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf said on Monday that he will play in the second Test against South Africa after pulling out of the first Test at the last minute due to lack of match fitness.

“I haven’t practiced for the last two months and I told the selectors yesterday that I won’t be playing in the first Test,” Yousuf told reporters. “I have no injury, but I felt I was not match fit,” he added.

Yousuf, 33, denied reports that the Indian Cricket League (ICL) had sent him a letter regarding the cancelation of the contract. “I have not received any document from the ICL and I just opted out of the first Test on match fitness,” he said.

“Selectors did not ask me about my match fitness when they announced the squad. During nets yesterday I felt I needed some more time before I should play in the Test matches,” he said.

The second Test begins in the northern city of Lahore on Oct. 8 where Yousuf plans to be in the playing eleven. “I’m sure by the time second Test match begins I will regain my match fitness,” he said.

Our correspondent adds: Pakistan’s ace batsman Mohammad Yousuf withdrew from the first Test against South Africa late Sunday, citing a lack of match fitness as the reason behind the sudden decision.

The bearded batsman, who has not played since representing Asia XI in the ODI series against Africa XI in June, was overlooked for the World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa last month.

Chairman of selectors Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters at the National Stadium that it was a decision which Yousuf himself took at the last moment.

“He (Yousuf) is fit but he feels that he is not fully fit for the match. He is, however, available for next week’s second Test,” said Salahuddin. “He needs some more time. It’s his personal decision to opt out of Karachi match.”“When we sought his availability at the time the squad was being announced, Yousuf had declared that he was fit for the squad. But after the nets, he said he wasn’t fit enough to play here,” added Sallu.

While the official clarification failed to provide a convincing reason for Yousuf’s last-minute withdrawal, what embarrassed the PCB and the team was that a player of Yousuf’s stature was unable to decide in advance regarding his fitness for the Test match.

This is not the first setback for the selectors or the PCB in the past few days. All-rounder Shahid Afridi decided to skip the SA series because he didn’t conform to the idea of having to play Tests while observing the sanctity of the holy month of Ramazan.

The selectors sought Inzamam-ul-Haq’s availability for the Karachi Test, but received a negative response from the former Pakistan captain, before Yousuf came up with a master stroke to upset all, not the least Shoaib Malik who was leading the country for the first time in a Test.