Sent back from Nairobi (Kenya) for indiscipline, Yousuf Youhana met the Chairman PCB, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia here to apprise him of the entire incident, giving his version of events. In the meanwhile, Chairman PCB also had a detailed telephonic conversation with team management and skipper Waqar Younis.

"The tour disciplinary committee was fully authorised to take the action that they have, and indiscipline should neither be tolerated nor condoned. Still in my considered opinion, the whole incident was a bit overblown", said the PCB Chairman.

"So while the PCB would be making every effort that there is no compromise on discipline, at the same time every endeavour would also be made that team spirit and camaraderie was not sacrificed by magnifying events and incidents that were otherwise not grave in nature", said Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia.

Both Yousuf Youhana and captain Waqar Younis wholeheartedly agree to this assessment of the situation.

Youhana for his part assured the Chairman that his not going for the nets, as skipper Younis demanded, was neither deliberate nor an intention to shirk usual training. He informed the Chairman that he had been carrying a shoulder injury from Tangiers, which was not given due attention to the team doctor at an early stage. The injury was confirmed from an MRI scan in Nairobi. "I was doing individual training on the ground, but did not go for nets because my shoulder was under treatment then", said Youhana.

"In any case, let me state that I want to perform for my country to the best of my ability. And I have utmost respect and regard not just for the Pakistan captain but all seniors as well. I regret any unintentional offense that I may have cause", said Youhana.

The PCB was likely to take a sympathetic view in case of Youhana because of his unblemished disciplinary record. He has immediately been handed in to the care of Dr. Tauseef Razzaq to attend to his shoulder injury so that he regains full fitness as soon as possible.


Khalid Butt
Media Manager
August 28, 2002

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