Image courtesy of: NDTV
“I don’t follow cricket now and my focus is not on the sport anymore”
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has launched a verbal assault against legendary pace bowler Waqar Younis as he blames him for causing “a lot of damage to our cricket”.
Yousuf also blames Younis for effectively ending his Test career as the former seamer sidelined him when he was head coach of the national team.
“Sometimes I think the biggest problem in our cricket are these senior players,” Yousuf said. “Waqar caused a lot of damage to our cricket.
“Waqar was not fair with either me or Abdul Razzaq. He didn’t deal with us fairly. By sidelining us he only damaged Pakistan cricket in the long run because even today I know I could have been playing Test cricket, at least.”
Furthermore, Yousuf accused Younis of having a “massive ego”.
“Some of them have massive ego problems like Waqar,” he said. “I got unfit on the 2010 tour but which player doesn’t get unfit? Does that mean I couldn’t get fit again or not play again. I played domestic cricket after that and proved my form but I was constantly ignored.”
Yousuf went on to reveal that he had given up on his international career and was not focused on cricket anymore.
“I don’t follow cricket now and my focus is not on the sport anymore,” he said. “It is over for me.”
The 39-year-old directed his anger towards the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as well since they did not allow him to retire with dignity and honour and nor did they appreciate all the years of faithful service he gave to the national team.
“I am not bitter but yes, it is sad for me,” Yousuf admitted. “But then in Pakistan cricket most senior players have been treated this way. I am not the first to face such a situation.”
Yousuf also noted that he would never consider joining the PCB or helping them out with any coaching assignments.
“It is a very bad system and it does not treat seniors fairly,” he said. “I wouldn’t like to be a part of it.”
Speaking about the struggles of the current Pakistan team, Yousuf noted that none of the batsmen have a proper role model to look up to.
“I followed players like Saeed Anwar, Javed Miandad, Salim Malik and Inzamam [ul-Haq],” Yousuf said. “Today our youngsters are not following the right role models because of T20 cricket.
“I think today Asad Shafiq is technically our best player but he is in and out of the team and that is affecting his progress. Such young batsmen need to be given confidence and a proper run to gain confidence.”
While Yousuf believes Pakistan have no role models to look up to, he couldn’t say the same about India since all the youngsters in the national team are excelling.
Yousuf attributed all of India’s recent success to the fact that they have brilliant role models like Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.