Javed Miandad should “keep his word”
PAKISTANI batsman Mohammad Yousuf has urged Javed Miandad to “keep his word” in lifting life bans against Indian Cricket League players.
Yousuf turned his back on Pakistan last November after opting to rejoin the ICL. He was subsequently banned from representing Pakistan in accordance to the PCB’s ongoing policy of life bans on ICL players.
A total of 20 Pakistani players play in the ICL, all of whom were told they had no future at international level unless they left the rebel league.
But there was some hope for them when former world cup winner Javed Miandad questioned justification of the lifetime bans.
Speaking to Cricinfo in November 2008, PCB director general Miandad said: “There is a lot of public pressure on the PCB to bring these players back from the ICL. The [ICL] players themselves are ready to represent Pakistan. It is something we must look at and discuss, and find out whether that policy [of the ban] had any benefit to it. “We have to look at our best interests.”
Yousuf said there was nothing stopping the PCB from lifting the ban and urged Miandad to take action.
“There is no such ruling from the ICC on ICL players,” Yousuf said in an interview with a Pakistani sports channel.
“Tell me are we committing some crime going to play in the league? I say there is nothing to stop the board from lifting the ban on us if it wants to. Javed Miandad is now director general and he should keep his word.”
