PCB chief shoots down proposal to send Younus to Australia: source

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt on Thursday shot down a proposal to send senior batsman Younus Khan to Australia to play in the second Test in Sydney from January 3.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt on Thursday shot down a proposal to send senior batsman Younus Khan to Australia to play in the second Test in Sydney from January 3.

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The PCB also announced that all-rounder Fawad Alam and pace bowler Abdul Rauf were being recalled immediately from Australia as the strength of the national squad there had to be reduced to 15 players.

Rauf played in the first Test in Melbourne which Pakistan lost by 170 runs.

"Butt spoke to chief selector Iqbal Qasim today to discuss the request of the team management in Australia who wanted Younus to be rushed to Australia before the second Test in Sydney," a well informed source told PTI.

"But the chairman first asked Qasim what were 17 players already doing in Australia when the official squad was supposed to be of 15 players," the source disclosed.

"The PCB chief told the chief selector to immediately call back two players and made it clear that he was not convinced that there was any need to rush Younus to Australia immediately," the source added.

When contacted Iqbal Qasim said that a decision on sending Younus to Australia would only be taken after the second Test which means that the senior batsman will have ample time to appear in the first round of the Pentangular first class tournament starting from January 2 in Karachi.