LAHORE: Veteran Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf on Tuesday denied that he was on verge of calling quits from international cricket and said despite not being involved in any form of the game in recent years he has no plans to call it a day.

“It is a reality that I am not playing cricket for the last three years but I am in good level of fitness by doing daily work out and as far as my retirement is concerned I have not yet announced it,” the veteran of 90 Tests, 288 One-day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals said here.

When his attention was drawn to conflicting media reports that he has announced retirement from the international cricket, Yousuf retorted that it was mere speculation.

“These are just baseless news and purely based on rumours. Contrary to the facts, I think calling it a day is a personal decision of any player and the others should respect it,” he added.

Yousuf said in all cricket-playing countries the players are given appropriate send off upon their retirements but this tradition is not being followed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

“A number of great players including Wasim Akram left the game and nothing was done by the PCB to acknowledge their achievements for the country and it is quite discouraging for those who are associated with the game,” he complained.

The 38-year-old stylish middle-order batsman, who made 7530 Test runs and 9720 in the one-dayers, was of the view that the PCB should organise functions for those Test cricketers who are retiring from the game.

“It is purely my personal decision [of retiring] and I am not under any obligation to announce it as I am not serving any department or institution at present,” he asserted.

Yousuf lamented that when he was at his peak he was not considered for the national team and at this stage he has no plans to return to the game.—APP