Re: Will Mohammed Yousuf return to Pakistani colors?
Reflexes tend to slow down gradually over time, not all of a sudden when you hit 37 or 38. Only a year ago, at the start of England tour, English commentators were asking "Was there any way to get these two (Inzi and Yousaf) out?", to which Rameez replied "Run them out!". Class players get in and out of form, that's natural. Inzi hasn't made many runs his past few innings, but that doesn't make him too old all of a sudden. Even at the start of this year he made 90+ not out in South Africa to win us our solitary Test there.
Even though Yousaf is the reigning Test MVP, chances are he won't be able to repeat last year's performance, and by law of averages, is bound for a few disappointing innings.
My point is simple... you don't discard someone because he's past a certain age. If you find someone better than him to fill his position, then by all means sit the lesser man out. Only the best 11 should be in the playing 11.
On dead wickets, most Pakistan batsmen will score heavily. During South Africa's last tour to Pakistan in 2003/2004, it was Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar who scored the most runs. But even on slow wickets, most Pakistan batsmen are unable to cope with a quality spinner or a quality fast bowler. That's why Inzimam, Yousif and Younis earn their place in the team.
What is the use of all this bickering when you know that it was Inzi himself who did not want to participate in the first test? We haven't produced a high quality batsman since Younis (and this was in 2000). It's high time we develop a few, and this is the time to start, even if it comes at the cost of Inzi out from the side.