NEW DELHI, Nov 5: Senior Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf brushed aside concerns over his international future after joining the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Yousuf, 34, surprised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by abruptly leaving for India after being named on Monday in a 15-member squad to play three one-dayers against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi.

Zakir Khan, PCB’s Director Cricket Operations International, said on Wednesday Yousuf would be banned from all cricket in Pakistan if he played in the unofficial Twenty20 competition.

“I know I can’t play for Pakistan,” Yousuf told a news conference here on Wednesday. “I want to play, but the decision is up to them [PCB]. Whatever, my performance shows I can play all forms of cricket.

“[For the] last one year, I’ve not played Tests,” he added, referring to the refusal by other teams to tour Pakistan because of security concerns.

“I made a mistake so I have come back,” Yousuf stated. “I didn’t talk to the PCB chairman.

“I had a misunderstanding with the ICL. Now that has been sorted out and I will play for them,” Yousuf, a veteran of 79 Tests and 269 One-day Internationals, said.

Since making his Test debut against South Africa at Durban in 1998, Yousuf has so far amassed 6770 Test runs with the help of 23 centuries and 28 half-centuries at a fine average of 55.49, and is now set to make his ICL debut in western Ahmedabad on Saturday playing for the Lahore Badshahs, led by his former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, against Dhaka Warriors.

The classical right-handed middle-order batsman has also collected 9242 ODI runs with the aid of 15 centuries and 62 half-centuries at 43.18.

ICL organisers had filed a legal case for breach of contract after Yousuf, who signed up last year, tried to switch to the official Indian Premier League (IPL).

ICL officials said they were now withdrawing the case.

“We have settled the case with Yousuf. We have signed him for a three-year deal,” Himanshu Mody, ICL business head, said.

He also claimed that the IPL could not take Yousuf to court because the batsman had not inked any deal with them.

“Yousuf has not taken any money from the IPL. There was no agreement between the two, so the IPL cannot take any action against him. However, if something does come up, we will stand by Yousuf,” Mody added.

Yousuf, whose 1,788 runs in Test cricket in 2006 is a calendar-year record, previously signed a contract with the ICL after he was dropped from Pakistan’s Twenty20 World Championship squad last year.

Meanwhile, Kapil Dev, former India all-rounder and ICL chairman, said the league was hopeful of gaining official recognition soon.

“I don’t see any difference between the ICL and IPL, both are private bodies. We are waiting for just one confirmation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Intikhab Alam, Pakistan’s newly-appointed coach, termed Yousuf’s act deplorable.

“Pakistan has given him everything – name, fame and wealth – but he let the nation and his fans down badly. He now can never play for Pakistan,” said Intikhab.—Agencies