Ban confusion: Pakistan backtrack

KARACHI: Former captains Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf had their international futures cast aside and then restored just as quickly after the Pakistan Cricket Board backtracked on their decision to ban the two players.

Earlier yesterday, the PCB said the two "should not be part of the team in any format" following reports of in-fighting during the unsuccessful tour of Australia ending last month.

The decision prompted protesters in Hyderabad to burn bats in a brief demonstration but a few hours later the PCB clarified their position saying there was no timeframe on the bans imposed on the two.

"The PCB wishes to clarify that the recommendation of the committee is not a life ban on these cricketers," the PCB's second statement of the day said.

"There is no specified term in the recommendation for these two players. As and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team."

The official change of stance came hours after it announced Younus and Yousuf would no longer be considered for selection after an inquiry into Pakistan's defeat in every match of their three-Test, five one-day and Twenty20 series in Australia.

The PCB handed out 12-month bans to Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved and fined Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal PRs3 million ($35,000) and Umar Akmal two million.

"Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan's... attitude has a trickledown effect which is a bad influence for the whole team (and they) should not be part of (the) national team in any format," the PCB said in their earlier statement yesterday.

The initial decision by the PCB left new head coach Waqar Younis shocked and left to try and rebuild a side for the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup title in West Indies in April.

"I will be talking to the board about this and see what happens," Younus told reporters from Australia.

The selectors are due to meet this week to announce the 15-member squad for the World Cup and the board will also announce a new captain.