Tough series against England: Yousaf

PESHAWAR—Muhammad Yousaf (known as Yousaf Youhana) predicted tough series against visiting England and termed the practice match vital for player form. Talking to journalists, he said that the team will need to be on top form to beat England in November and December, following England victory in Ashes in September last.
It is actually the part of the game that Pakistan XI lost its seven wickets on just 31 runs but all of them saw that Hasan Raza and Mansoor Amjad played with patients and determination by adding some good scored, Yousaf added. Yousaf is leading the Pakistan XI against Peshawar Region in first practice match at Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium here. Team need to be at their best to beat England, said Yousaf when asked to comment about overall position of the team. “The team is fully capable of giving tough fight and if the boys showed their actual skills with confidence, the team would come out as winners,” he predicted. Yousaf was confident about their ability to compete against England but termed lack of tough practice is the only draw back so far facing the players. Muhammad Yousaf said that the team has been improving and certainly England will have to face tough resistance of having home ground and home crowd advantage. It is going to be a very tough and exciting series, he added. Yousaf lauded Inzamam and coach, Bob Woolmer, who did hard work with the players to prepare a formidable side to tackle tricky England. About Peshawar Region, Yousaf said, Pakistan XI would have to face tough resistance because it comes up like a well set team with excellent combination of spinners and fast bowling. They have good batsmen in the rank like Younus, Yasir, Wajahat, Akhtar Sarfaraz and all rounder Jan Nisar.—Agencies