The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Younis Khan rejects ICL offer

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Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
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Younis Khan rejects ICL offer

Karachi: Star Pakistani batsman Younis Khan has rejected a lucrative offer made by the organisers of the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Younis said that he had rejected the offer because playing for the country was much more important to him than earning money.

The former Pakistan vice-captain, who turned down the opportunity to lead his country after the World Cup, said he also didn’t want to play in the league as it would clash with Pakistan’s domestic season. “And I don’t want to miss the domestic matches,” he said.

Younis is among several Pakistani players approached by the ICL organisers. While Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Shahid Afridi have turned down the chance to play in the Twenty20 tournament, others like Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Asim Kamal are still mulling over the offers made to them. Younis, however, said he would not sign the central contract offered to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board by the given deadline of August 15. “Right now I am busy with county cricket and I plan to return home on August 22 after which I will consult my lawyers and only then take a decision on signing the documents,” he said.

Younis had initially said he was unavailable to play for Pakistan until September 25 for his commitments with his county Yorkshire but later relented and is in the Pakistan squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa. — PTI

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