'We need Younis for Tests' - Afridi

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has reiterated that Younis Khan's experience will be crucial for the side's upcoming Test matches against England and Australia. Younis is the only batsman in the 35-player list of probables for the England tour with an average touching 50. He was banned indefinitely by the PCB in the aftermath of a winless tour of Australia, but the punishment was revoked by the one-man tribunal that heard his appeal on Saturday.

"I don't think it is a big problem that Younis has not been picked in the one-day squad but we definitely need him for the Test matches," Afridi told PTI. "I am sure he will be ready for a Test comeback in England."

Shoaib Malik, whose ban was reversed during his hearing, featured in the one-day squad for the Asia Cup and Afridi hoped Younis would make a similar comeback in time for the Tests.

Younis has been short on international match-practice, having sat out of Pakistan's tour of New Zealand and the Tests in Australia. He returned for the ODI leg of that tour, after which he was banned for disciplinary reasons by a PCB inquiry committee. He is set to turn out for Surrey in the English domestic season, and Afridi hopes that will help him prepare for the Tests.

"I just hope that Younis is able to score runs for Surrey in England. It will be good for us because he is already playing there and would have got used to the English conditions by the time we go there," he said.