'Shoaib can make comeback by proving form and fitness'

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt dismissed reports that he had ruled out the possibility of Shoaib Akhtar's return to the national team and said that the injury-plagued pacer will have to prove his worth in domestic tournaments to be considered for a place.

"It is not fair that such statements are attributed to me. I never said anything like this because how can a chairman of the board pass such remarks against a player who is our centrally contracted player and wants to play for Pakistan again," Butt said.

"Like any other player, he must play at the domestic level and prove his fitness and form to win a place in the national team," he said.

During his recent England visit, Butt was quoted by the media as saying that he did not see controversial Akhtar playing for Pakistan again after his knee surgery and liposuction.

Meanwhile, the PCB Chairman also said that during the London visit regular captain Younis Khan has conveyed his intention to tour Australia next month.

"Younis has conveyed to me that he intends to resume playing in Australia. But I have told him he has to come back and play in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy matches to regain his form," Butt said.

"I am sure he will comeback and score plenty of runs again," he said.

Butt said he had a positive discussion with Younis and felt the senior player had set a fine example by withdrawing from the New Zealand tour due to his poor form.

"He has set a healthy precedent and he has told he will start playing in the Quaid Trophy matches after Eid," he added.

Younus had opted out of the ongoing three-Test tour to New Zealand after his team lost the One-Day series to the Kiwis in Abu Dhabi.

The PCB has appointed senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf as the stand-in skipper for the New Zealand tour but made no decision on who would lead the team in Australia.

Pakistan chief selector Iqbal Qasim also said that Younis will have score runs in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to be considered for the Australia tour.

"Whether he will captain the team in Australia is not our concern that is for the board to decide, but he will have to get his form back," he added.