just watched on TV . . .after meeting with Nawaz Sharif , Amir Sohail announced his entrance in politics through PML-N . .

LAHORE: Former cricketer Aamir Sohail joined the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday, reported Express 24/7.
The former Pakistan skipper and left-handed opener called on PML-N President Nawaz Sharif in Raiwind and expressed confidence in the leadership of his party.
Talking to Express 24/7, Sohail said the country needs seasoned and experienced leadership which he believes the PML-N offers.
“I have joined with an open mind and open heart, and there’s a long way to go,” he added.
Sharif welcomed him in the PML-N and called it a good addition to the party.
Sohail told the PML-N chief that he wants to work for the better future of cricket in the country.

Younus declines captaincy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had approached Younus Khan to captain Pakistan in limited-overs in order to reduce the workload on Misbahul Haq but the former captain declined the request, insisting on need to concentrate on his batting and his desire to stay away from controversies.

The move was part of PCB’s move to either groom a young captain or fill the void left by the retirement of all-rounder Shahid Afridi. The board, following Younus’ refusal, has decided to keep Misbah as captain for the next three series even if the middle-order batsman fails to maintain his performance.

Younus’ refusal did not come as a surprise as the batsman, who led Pakistan to the 2009 World Twenty20 title before retiring from the format altogether, stepped down as the One-Day International and Test captain later that year citing the lack of backing from teammates.

He was recalled to the side midway through the tour of Australia but, by the integrity committee formed after Pakistan’s winless tour, was fined and banned indefinitely for creating disharmony in the dressing room.

He was then overlooked for the tour of England but earnt yet another recall — the series against South Africa in the UAE and has been a regular since then.

“Younus was asked to become limited-overs captain but he refused the offer straightway,” a top PCB official told The Express Tribune. “He said he just wanted to focus on his batting and was not ready to take captaincy as his wish was to stay away from controversies.

“We respect his feelings and won’t be forcing him to take the job. The board has now decided to rely on Misbah with the hope that he will perform and stay fit for a longer period. At least, he will be captaining the series against Sri Lanka and England in all formats.”

Malik not a contender

Meanwhile, in a reply to reports surfacing speculating another former captain Shoaib Malik to not only make a quick comeback to the national squad but also be appointed limited-overs captain, the official said that the PCB had not planned any such action.

“There are no such plans as yet. The possibility of Malik being named captain has not been discussed by the PCB’s think tank.”

Malik yet to provide remaining documents

A PCB official also added that the former captain fell short of providing a couple of important documents related to his bank accounts which denied him instant clearance in a hearing earlier this week.

“Malik provided around 90 per cent  of the sought documents. He failed to submit a couple which delayed the verdict. Although the documents were not that important, the integrity committee cannot pass judgment on basis of incomplete documents and that is why he wasn’t cleared.”

Is Malik clean enough to play for Pakistan again?

Soon after the 2007 World Cup, Shoaib Malik was touted by Pakistan’s cricket chiefs as a long-term answer to the country’s long-standing captaincy problem.

The gutsy allrounder, then only 25, was over the moon after being installed as the national captain just weeks after Pakistan crashed out of the World Cup in the Caribbean at the first hurdle. Last year, he made headlines after marrying Indian tennis starlet Sania Mirza. At that time, life was looking set for the Sialkot-born player.

But things have changed drastically for the player since last summer. Today, Malik is a match-fixing suspect and it is not sure whether he will be allowed to revive his international career.

Malik, who has scored 1606 runs from 32 Tests and 5188 runs from 192 One-day Internationals, has not played for Pakistan since featuring in the Birmingham Test against England last August.

Though no official reason has been given for his ouster, it is generally believed that he is on a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) blacklist because of corruption suspicions.

Malik has claimed that he is completely clean and has been making efforts to prove his innocence so that he can be cleared for national duty.

On Monday, he appeared before a PCB integrity committee in Lahore in a bid to get its green signal. However, the committee which was formed by the PCB in the aftermath of an embarrassing spot-fixing scandal involving three of Pakistan’s leading cricketers deferred its decision and will meet again later this week to carry on its deliberations on the issue that also involves Pakistan’s Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

While many see Kaneria — Pakistan’s most successful spinner in Test history — as spent force, Malik is a different story.

A former Pakistan Test cricketer told ‘The News’ on Tuesday that he believes that the PCB will clear Malik for national duty soon and might even think about reappointing him as the country’s limited-overs captain within the next few months.

“I can tell you that Malik will make a comeback as Pakistan’s one-day and Twenty20 captain,” said the ex-Test player, who requested anonymity.

Some might agree that Malik can make a return as Pakistan’s limited-overs skipper following the retirement of senior allrounder Shahid Afridi earlier this summer.

Afridi’s exit following a bitter fall-out with PCB has left Pakistan with limited captaincy options. The Board has to find a young captain considering the fact that current skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is in the twilight of his international career.

According to sources, even Misbah also wants Malik back in the squad.

Malik, who has also taken 21 Test and 134 ODI wickets, is confident that he can make a successful return to international cricket.

“I have given to the committee whatever I was asked to submit and it’s up to them to clear me for national duty,” said Malik. “If I am included in the team, then I am sure I will give a good performance because I’m a hundred percent fit. I believe I have a lot to offer to Pakistan cricket,” he added.

But any move to bring back Malik is bound to attract strong criticism. According to sources, Malik has so far failed to justify a transaction of 90,000 pounds made to his offshore bank account. “There is a huge question mark over Malik’s integrity and unless he proves himself completely clean, it would be absurd to bring him back in the team. Reappointing him as Pakistan’s captain will be criminal,” said another former Test cricketer.