Yousuf to play league cricket in Bangladesh

KARACHI: Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has signed up to play with a Bangladesh club, Mohammedan Sporting, in the Premier Division Cricket League in Bangladesh. The club has brought in Yousuf in place of Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof, who returned home after sustaining an injury. 36-year-old Yousuf, who was ruled out of a Test series against South Africa in November due to a groin injury, was not picked for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand due to concerns over his fitness. Yousuf has played 90 Tests for Pakistan, averaging 52.29, but since the beginning of 2008 he has averaged just under 35 in 11 Tests, with a solitary hundred. “I have no idea about the competition in Bangladesh but you know cricket is cricket,” Yousuf told reporters after he completed the contractual formalities at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. “I can understand the standard and nature of the competition after playing the first couple of games. I want to play all the matches if I am not selected for national duty. As a professional cricketer it would not be hard to motivate myself in this competition.” Several Pakistan cricketers including former fast bowler Wasim Akram have played in the Premier Division Cricket League.