Yousuf to join national squad before second Test

Star batsman Mohammad Yousuf will fly for Johannesburg in the next couple of days to join the Pakistan team ahead of the second Test against South Africa starting from January 17 in Port Elizabeth, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Friday.
Yousuf, who missed the opening Test under progress at Centurion after his pregnant wife developed some complications, is now set to leave for South Africa after his wife gave birth to a baby girl on Friday.
“He (Yousuf) has been under stress because of his wife’s condition but now everything seems alright and he will catch a flight to South Africa in the next few days,” said the PCB official.
Yousuf is a key member of Pakistan’s batting line-up and his record-breaking run-spree in 2006 makes him all the more important for the tourists against a strong South African attack in the three-match Test series.
The Lahore batsman made a record 1788 runs from 12 Tests last year and broke several records including the prized landmark of most runs in a calendar year previously held by West Indian great Sir Vivian Richards in 1976.
Yousuf, who performed Hajj last month, was supposed to join his teammates ahead of the first Test but had to stay home to be with his wife who was scheduled to undergo surgery either on January 12th or 19th.
It was decided that in case the surgery was performed on January 12, which it was, he would leave for South Africa on the 14th.
“We think that he (Yousuf) would leave on Sunday but it would only be confirmed tomorrow,” said the PCB official.
Yousuf’s absence from the line-up was felt by Pakistan in the opening Test when they suffered a sort of a middle-order collapse at Centurion where they got out for 313 in the first innings in spite of a record third-wicket stand between Younis Khan and Yasir Hameed.
Yousuf now seems set to play in the second Test in Port Elizabeth, a development that should come as a relief for Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Meanwhile, reports coming on the injuries of medium pacer Umar Gul and all-rounder Shoaib Malik also appear to be positive.
The PCB official said that it is expected that both the players should be fit within the next week or so.
Gul, Pakistan’s most successful bowler in the last six months, was forced to miss the opening Test because of an ankle injury.
Pakistan rushed fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to South Africa as Gul’s cover but he also missed the Centurion Test after failing to find a flight in time to reach South Africa.
Shoaib arrived in Johannesburg on Friday and straight away joined his teammates in the dressing room on the second day of the first Test. He is expected to feature in the second Test next week.