FT

Younis in hot water after outburst over one-day snub

Wednesday, 23 September 2015 01:10 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Veteran Pakistan batsman Younis Khan is facing disciplinary action for lashing out when it became clear he was to be dropped for next month’s one-day series in Zimbabwe.

The 37-year-old hit out at selectors a day before the squad was announced last week – without his name included.

“If I am not selected the one-day team will not be able to stand up,” Younis said in a television interview.

The head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar Khan said the batsman, who has averaged a dismal 18.32 in 29 one-day matches in the last three years, was clearly frustrated.

“I respect him a lot and we will sit with him and discuss it with him but we will consider taking action,” PCB chairman Khan said.

“There are two actions, extreme or moderate, but we have to find a position in between. Something should be done.”

It is the third series in a row for which the selectors have overlooked Khan, who scored just 43 runs in three World Cup matches in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.

But he has been in fine Test form, rolling back the years to hit a sublime 171 not out as Pakistan chased an improbable 377 to beat Sri Lanka in Pallekele in July. 

He was further piqued over an event on Saturday to launch the logo for the new Twenty Pakistan Super League.

“I was not invited and that made it easy for me to decide whether to play the PSL or not,” he retorted on Saturday night.

But the PCB’s Khan said all players including Younis were invited.

“If we had not invited Younis and other greats I would have been apologising,” said Khan. “Younis saying he was not invited is factually not correct.”

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