ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Mohammad Yousuf criticises PCB's move to allow players to stay with family during mega event

Karachi: Former captain Mohammad Yousuf is furious with the Pakistan Cricket Board for allowing families of the players to stay with them ahead of the much-awaited match against India in the World Cup. Wives and children of the Pakistani players have joined them in Manchester ahead of the clash against India on Sunday. “I was part of the 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups but the board never allowed players to have their families with them during the tournament,” Yousuf said. [caption id=“attachment_2675790” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Mohammad Yousuf. Reuters[/caption] “In 1999 we had such a big team with so many big names that if we had pressurized the board to give permission to have our wives and children stay with us in team hotel they would have done so. “But we didn’t because the World Cup is high-pressure event and players need to just be focussed on cricket and reaching the final. That is what happened in 99’ in England,” Yousuf said. Yousuf, who played 90 Tests and 288 one-day internationals, recalled that the board didn’t even give permission to players in one-day series or tournaments to have their families stay with them in those days. “I remember we were allowed to have our wives and children with us only during Test matches as it made sense as we stayed in one city for at least a week,” Yousuf said. The former Pakistan batsman said he couldn’t understand the logic behind PCB’s decision to allow the wives and children to join players before the all-important match against India. “If it was necessary to appease the players they could have been allowed to have their wives and children at the start of the tournament, not at the business end of the World Cup.” Yousuf said with their families around it was a big distraction for the players and with important matches coming up he was worried about the results. The PCB initially had refused to give permission to the players to have their families with them in the World Cup but it later changed its mind and said families could stay in the team hotel after the match against Australia which Pakistan lost. For all the latest news, opinions and analysis from ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, click here