Tag: Mohammad Yousuf

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman commented on the reports regarding Shaheen Afridi’s altercation with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf during the team’s tour to Ireland and England before the T20 World Cup 2024.

Atiq, a qualified coach, expressed his disappointment with Shaheen Afridi and emphasized that the pacer should have put his head down and tried not to bowl no-balls in the nets.

“If Mohammad Yousuf bhai said that, Shaheen Afridi shouldn’t have made the comments he did. I’m not sure if he made them or not, as these are just rumours. If he did, I’m really disappointed because Yousuf Bhai is a bigger name than Shaheen Afridi,” said Atiq-uz-Zaman.

“So, he got to understand that there is something called respect. If the coach instructs you, you should just put your head down and try not to bowl no-ball in the nets,” he added.

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According to recent reports, Shaheen engaged in a heated argument with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf during the team’s tour ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Sources asserted that the incident occurred during Pakistan’s net practice at Headingley when Shaheen engaged in a verbal exchange with the former batter.

The batting coach pointed towards Shaheen Afridi’s continuous no-balls in the nets, they added.

However, the pacer got furious and told Mohammad Yousuf to let him practice and not intervene in his bowling.

According to sources, Shaheen later apologised to the batting coach while the team management also reprimanded him for his misconduct.

However, the incident was termed the heat of the moment and the chapter was closed after Shaheen Afridi apologised to Mohammad Yousuf.

READ: Shadab Khan opens up on recent struggles in international cricket

Pakistan ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi posted a cryptic message amid reports regarding his altercation with coaches during the team’s tour to Ireland and England before the T20 World Cup 2024.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Shaheen shared a video of himself bowling in nets with the caption reading, “Rise Above” with an eagle emoji.

In the recently-shared video, Shaheen Afridi was bowling to former Pakistan captain Misbah-Ul-Haq as the latter gears up for Pakistan Champions’ semi-final clash against West Indies Champions in the ongoing World Championship of Legends.

According to recent reports, Shaheen engaged in a heated argument with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf during the team’s tour ahead of the mega event.

Sources asserted that the incident occurred during Pakistan’s net practice at Headingley when Shaheen engaged in a verbal exchange with the former batter.

The batting coach pointed towards Shaheen Afridi’s continuous no-balls in the nets, they added.

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However, the pacer got furious and told Mohammad Yousuf to let him practice and not intervene in his bowling.

According to sources, Shaheen later apologised to the batting coach while the team management also reprimanded him for his misconduct.

However, the incident was termed the heat of the moment and the chapter was closed after Shaheen Afridi apologised to Mohammad Yousuf.

It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) axed former pacer Wahab Riaz from the position of senior team manager and as a member of the selection committee after Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024.

Former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was also sacked from the PCB selection committee.

READ: Abdul Razzaq opens up after being sacked as selector

LAHORE: Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Sunday announced a seven-member National Cricket Selection Committee.

During a press conference, Naqvi announced the reorganised selection committee, with each member having equal powers and no chairman of the committee.

“We have reorganised this selection committee, the committee will consist of seven members, but what is different this time is there will be no chairman selection committee, each member would have the same power as the other one,” Naqvi said.

The former chairman Wahab Riaz is joined by former cricketers Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz and Asad Shafiq in the selection committee. Meanwhile, the captain, head coach and an analyst will also be part of the committee.

“The decision would be [decided] on the majority, they should debate, and talk amongst themselves so a better conclusion can be reached.

“The previous structure of the committee was different, but this one, I assure you every member was chosen after considering multiple factors.

“The selection committee will make all the decisions going forward. I have conveyed that the chairman will not be involved in any decisions regarding the selection.

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“I back this selection committee and believe that they will produce desirable results”

He also announced that the committee would also be responsible for the appointment of the captain.

“The matter of captaincy is being deliberated upon. I believe that the captain is the selection committee’s prerogative,” said Mohsin Naqvi.

“They are working on it and I am sure they will finalise their decision after the camp is completed.”

“I am not a cricket expert, the people sitting next to me are experts. Decisions regarding cricket will be made by cricket experts.”

Notably, PCB dissolved the National Cricket Selection Committee earlier today.

The development came after sources revealed on March 18 that the PCB will further empower the committee with full authority.

The first assignment of the new selection committee is to select the squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on 18 April.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, appointed former Test captain Mohammad Yousuf as the head coach of Pakistan Men’s U19 team.

Yousuf’s first assignments in the role include the 2023 ACC U19 Asia Cup in the UAE from 8 to 17 December and the 2024 ICC U19 World Cup in Sri Lanka from 13 January to 4 February.

Mohammad Yousuf, who has previously served as batting coach of the Pakistan Men’s Team and at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, is one of Pakistan’s most distinguished batters.

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He scored 7,530 Test and 9,720 ODI runs in a career spanning from 1998 to 2010 and holds the record for the most Test runs in a calendar year when he amassed 1788 runs in the format in 2006.

On his appointment, Mohammad Yousuf stated that it is an honour for him to contribute to Pakistan Cricket.

“I am pleased to join as Pakistan U19 head coach and feel honoured to have been given the opportunity to contribute to Pakistan cricket by Chairman PCB Management Committee Mr Zaka Ashraf.

“I am eagerly looking forward to the upcoming U19 Asia Cup and ICC U19 World Cup tournaments, which are crucial to the players’ growth and we will be aiming to do our best in these events.

“Having had the privilege of working with the senior men’s side, I will bring my coaching experience to the U19 set-up, providing a nurturing environment for the young talents to thrive and make a mark on the international level.

“Harnessing the skills of young players is crucial for Pakistan cricket and I am dedicated to fulfilling my responsibility in helping identify, improve and nurture future stars.”

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Earlier this week, the PCB also named Sohail Tanvir the head of junior selection committee.

READ: Karachi Whites beat Multan to set up Pakistan Cup final clash with Peshawar

KARACHI: Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf asserted opening batter Abdullah Shafique’s dismissal on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand was unlucky.

Yousuf, while talking to the media following the conclusion of the second day’s play responded to a question regarding opener Abdullah’s struggling patch and his dismissal by stating that the latter is trying hard to get away and going but he just got unlucky in the process.

“He scored a century in the first Test against England and has been struggling since then and I think the field is like an examination hall for a player. So, if a player is struggling then it is difficult to interfere in the technical elements involved,” stated Yousuf.

“But, some of the tuning and conversation get going with him and he himself is trying hard in this regard so, obviously if any player experience such situations as we did in our time when four-five innings go bad then it feels even harder for the batter.

“But, he still keeps doing something for it. So, in my opinion, it is even more inappropriate to disturb him during the strive. Since it is hard for a batter to get over his struggling patch after four-five bad innings yet it is not impossible.

“I even think he got unlucky this time as the ball bounced a little too much and came slow and produced a top edge.”

Yousuf then denied the speculations regarding Shan Masood and Abdullah being given instructions to play a bit more aggressively and made clear that the management always backs players to play their natural games.

“It’s their own game. There is no such instruction from management or the captain. It has always been our stance to let players their natural game according to their strengths,” said Yousuf.

The batting coach then lamented the absence of clay soil in the country to make more lively and result-generating wickets, while also credited New Zealand tailenders Ajaz Patel and Matt Henry for their astounding 10th-wicket partnership.

It is worth mentioning here that New Zealand pushed Pakistan to the backfoot by dismantling the hosts’ top order after posting a mammoth 449 runs in the first innings of the ongoing second Test.

Left-handed batters Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel, however, launched a counter-attack as they raised a 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket before stumps.

Imam (74*) and Saud (13*) will now resume Pakistan’s first innings at 154/3 as they are still 295 runs behind.

READ: Imam, Saud hang on after Pakistan’s jittery start on Day 2 

MULTAN: Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf asserted Multan Test to be equally balanced between the two sides as Pakistan finished at 198/4 at the conclusion of the third day’s action.

Yousuf, while talking to the media following the conclusion of the third day’s play and predicted the outcome of the ongoing Multan Test.

“What I’m seeing right now is that this match is 50-50. Look, a Test match goes this way, in the first session we lost three wickets and in the next session we got a partnership between Imam and Saud, both played very well and put England under pressure,” said Yousuf.

“But, the wicket that fell four overs before the stumps, brought England back in the game. Otherwise, if you look at the situation of this match, if Imam didn’t get out then England would be under even more pressure and even it will not be a 50-50 situation.

“It is a part of the game and the beauty of Test cricket is that it goes session by session and more importantly, such tense matches are important to keep Test cricket alive.”

On a question regarding whether it was a conscious effort from the hosts to play with a better run rate, Yousuf claimed that it has always been discussed in the camp but in the end, we have to play according to the situation of the match.

“Look, it is often discussed in the camp with the players and we offer them since they all are professional players but sometimes the situation or wicket is such that you can not score freely,” Yousuf shared.

“If you look at this series, for example, they have been playing at a much higher rate than us but if we consider our requirements then we’ve been going accordingly in the last four innings and that is a good sign for everyone,” he maintained.

On a question regarding wicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan’s struggling patch in his last five Tests and whether he should be rested for the Karachi Test and replaced by former captain Sarfaraz Ahmer, batting coach Yousuf claimed it is not in his domain.

“Since I started working with the cricket board, around two years ago and have been with the team for the last eight to ten months, so one thing is really clear that everyone would work by staying in his domain,” answered Yousuf.

“And that is a good thing, I won’t go in anyone’s domain, no one would come into mine. So, I do not think that this question belongs to my domain,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that a vital 108-run partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel anchored Pakistan to 198/4 at the stumps on day three, requiring another 157 runs to square off a series-levelling victory.

Pakistan opener Imam, who came out to bat at number five perished in the closing minutes of the third day’s action after scoring a fighting half-century.

Whereas, Saud stood firm with his unbeaten 54 and will resume the run chase with Faheem Ashraf (3*) on an anticipated decisive day of the second Test.

READ: Imam, Saud anchor Pakistan to 198/4 at stumps after brief collapse 

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan batter and current batting coach of the national team Mohammad Yousuf made a significant assertion about top-ranked white ball batter Babar Azam, claiming that the latter does not require much coaching.

Yousuf stated on ARY News’ show Bouncer (Eid Special) in response the host’s question about what he is coaching Babar these days, the batting coach asserted that the all-format Pakistan captain does not require much coaching since he is performing well.

“Babar doesn’t need to learn anything, in my opinion,” Yousuf told the host. “He is performing well and I always try to make sure not to disturb any player who is performing exceptionally well.”

The legendary batter then also heaped praises on left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq and made the same assertion as he did about Babar.

“Same goes for Imam, as he too, is doing really well. But, I do tell him if there is any minor mistake in his approach. So yeah, I always try not to disturb those batters, who are performing well,” Yousuf claimed.

Yousuf then opined on the Green Shirts’ struggling middle-order, claiming that the players are working hard to overcome the adversity and will soon produce positive results.

“As you mentioned the middle-order, scoring quick singles are very essential for them. We held a camp and in one of the nets we were directing the players to play sweep shots,” Yousuf revealed.

“Because, as per my cricketing knowledge, when a batter plays a sweep shot to spinners. The bowler then will either bowl a full-length delivery or a rather short-of-length delivery. So, this variation in the pitching of the ball, allows the batter to score freely and the rotation of strike also gets easier,” he maintained.

It is pertinent to mention here that the national team has recently been suffering from a struggling middle-order as they displayed a dismal show in the recently-concluded home ODI series against West Indies.

READ: ‘I advised Virat Kohli to work on his front foot’ claims Mushtaq Ahmed 

KARACHI: Pakistan’s batting consultant Mohammad Yousuf has come into the defence of the slow pitch of the Pindi Stadium for the first Test between Pakistan and Australia.

Yousuf, while talking to the media here ahead of the second Test between the two sides, said Australians also benefit from their conditions.

“I was happy to see Pakistan batting in Rawalpindi Test. Australia also benefit from their conditions,” he said.

The batting consultant further shared his views on the slow nature of the pitch and claimed the insufficient sunlight affected the pitch.

“Pindi’s wicket was acting strangely since it didn’t get enough sunshine. This was also due to using a heavy roll on the wicket,” he opined.

“However, I am hopeful that Karachi’s wicket will be able to produce a result,” he added.

Yousuf then also praised the top-performers with the bat for Pakistan Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, and Abdullah Shafique, also termed the latter as the next big thing.

“Azhar, Imam, and Abdullah played brilliantly. Abdullah’s future is bright,” he said.

Yousuf then went on to express his desire for the players to perform well in the away matches as well.

READ: Pakistan javelin-thrower Arshad flies to South Africa for training

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced to retain Saqlain Mushtaq as the national team’s head coach for another 12 months whereas former Australian pacer Shaun Tait has been appointed as bowling coach for 12 months. 

On Wednesday, PCB announced a 16-men squad for the Test series against Australia. Meanwhile, also disclosed the team management for the Australia series.

“PCB has confirmed Saqlain Mushtaq will continue as head coach for another 12 months, while it also announced the appointments of Shaun Tait as fast bowling coach for 12 months and Mohammad Yousuf as batting coach for the Australia series,” the statement said.

Player Support Personnel: Mansoor Rana (manager), Saqlain Mushtaq (head coach), Shahid Aslam (assistant to head coach), Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Shaun Tait (bowling coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saaiman (trainer/strength and conditioning coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Emmad Ahmed Hameed (media and digital manager), Col (retd) Usman Anwari (security manager), Talha Ejaz (analyst) and Malang Ali (masseur).

Pakistan and Australia will play three Tests in Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Lahore respectively, starting on March 4.

READ: Fakhar grabs ninth spot, Babar retains top position in ICC ODI rankings