Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has admitted he is far from being match-fit for next week's third Test against England at The Oval. The former Pakistan captain was unable to add to his overnight 40 as rain washed out the second and final day of the tourists' match against Worcestershire at New Road Saturday. And the 35-year-old admitted he would have dearly loved more time in the middle, telling www.PakPassion.net: “I would have wanted some valuable time in the middle today. “To get some practice and also it would have boosted my match fitness. However it wasn't meant to be and there's nothing I can do about it.” “The fitness levels you maintain when playing first class cricket are entirely different to the levels of fitness you maintain when playing a few local club matches as I was in Lahore before arriving in England. “I am not entirely Test match-fit, but I will utilise my experience as my country needs me.” Pakistan is 2-0 down in the four-Test series following crushing defeats at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston where it was bowled out for record low scores against England of 80 and 72 respectively. Yousuf was recalled ahead of the nine-wicket second Test loss at Edgbaston but was not selected after only arriving in England the day before the match. Third in Pakistan's all-time list of Test run-scorers, Yousuf was initially omitted from the squad having been handed an indefinite ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board after captaining the side on their winless tour of Australia concluded earlier this year. Now, barring injury, he seems set to be recalled at The Oval, which has a reputation as one of the best batting surfaces in England although much may depend on the overhead conditions the hosts' swing bowlers have exploited so successfully in the first two Tests. Pakistan suffered a setback Saturday when it was announced wicketkeeper-batsman Zulqarnain Haider, who made 80 on Test debut at Edgbaston, was doubtful for The Oval after suffering a finger injury. Same team for England England has retained out-of-form opener Alastair Cook, who has hit only 100 runs in his last seven Test innings, for the third Test against Pakistan at the Oval. The England selectors named an unchanged team Sunday from the side that claimed a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second test at Edgbaston last week. England lead the four-match series 2-0. “We were delighted with the way the team performed at Edgbaston in the second Test,” selector Geoff Miller said. “To put together dominant performances in back-to-back test matches is a credit to the team's hard work, but the key remains consistency throughout the duration of the series.” Tim Bresnan will join the England team Tuesday as bowling cover before the test gets underway the following day. Team: Andrew Strauss, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.
