"I'm Not Match Fit, but My Country Needs Me" : Mohammad Yousuf by PakPassion.Net

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Player:	Mohammad Yousuf
Event:	Pakistan in England 2010

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DateLine: 15th August 2010

 

Pakistan veteran batsmen Mohammad Yousuf speaking to PakPassion.net confessed that he was nowhere near being match fit for Test cricket ahead of the third Test at the Oval.

 

Yousuf was unable to add to his overnight score of 40 at Worcester as play was abandoned on the second and final day of the practice match against the Midlands County.

 

As the rain poured at the picturesque New Road ground, Yousuf could be seen getting rather "itchy feet" in anticipation of some much needed practice.

 

Instead of walking out to the middle and facing the Worcestershire bowling attack, Yousuf's day was spent taking part in a few fielding drills, a light hearted game of football, posing for pictures with fans and signing autographs for autograph hunters.

 

"I would have wanted some valuable time in the middle today, to get some practice and also it would have boosted my match fitness. However it wasn't meant to be and there's nothing I can do about it."

 

Yousuf who is approaching his 36th birthday was recalled for the ongoing tour of England after Pakistan's brittle batting order struggled in the first test match at Nottingham.

 

Yousuf arrived in England a day before the commencement of the second test in Birmingham and was declared unfit to play. However whilst he is concerned about his match fitness, he is confident that his experience will help him through at the Oval.

 

"The fitness levels you maintain when playing first class cricket are entirely different to the levels of fitness you maintain when playing a few local club matches as I was in Lahore before arriving in England. If I'm being honest, I am not entirely test match fit, but I will utilise my experience, as my country needs me."

 

Yousuf was coy when it came to speaking about Pakistan's chances at the Oval and stated that a lot could depend on the nature of the track.

 

"I'll do my best and will help and guide the younger players, let's see what the track is like at the Oval and I hope that we can bounce back and get back into the series."

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
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