By IANS
Lahore : Pakistan’s new cricket coach Geoff Lawson has called on batsman Mohammad Yousuf to reconsider his decision to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat have signed up for ICL despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to ban them from the national team.
But Lawson said here Tuesday: “To lose Yousuf is a blow, he’s such an outstanding player.
“I hope he rethinks the decision. He can certainly still be tremendously important to Pakistan cricket.”
Lawson took charge of his first training session with the Pakistan team this week, having arrived Monday to take up his new post and prepare for the Twenty20 World Championship starting Sep 11 in South Africa.
And the 49-year-old former Australian paceman refused to be drawn on whether the PCB was correct to ban players involved with ICL.
“It is not for me to speak on this really, I’m a coach, not an administrator,” he said.
“It certainly does not affect my role and what I’m here to do. I am thrilled and honoured to be here and meeting with the players. The enthusiasm among the players is outstanding and they are eager to do well.”