Yousuf to leave for South Africa next week by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter

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Player:

Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul

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DateLine: 16th January 2007

 

Record-breaking batsman Mohammad Yousuf will join the Pakistan team in South Africa next week after his wife gave birth to a baby girl, the Pakistan Cricket Board said Saturday. "Yousuf will be leaving for South Africa early next week after his wife gave birth to a baby girl on Friday and now he is out of the family problem due to complication of the situation," the board said in a statement. The 32-year-old batsman missed the squad's departure after his wife suffered pregnancy complications. It was feared Yousuf would miss the entire series. Yousuf, who scored 1778 runs in 2006 to create a new world record of most runs in a calendar year, is likely to be available for the second Test starting at Port Elizabeth from January 19. The stylish right-handed batsman also missed two of the five one-day internationals against the West Indies last month because of his wife's health. Pakistan earlier received a boost when express paceman Shoaib Akhtar joined the squad on Friday. Akhtar was not in the original 17-man team but was sent as replacement after fast bowler Umar Gul sustained an ankle injury.