Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ejaz Butt wants former captain Younis Khan to return to international cricket during next month’s tour of Australia. Younis was replaced as captain for the Test tour to New Zealand earlier this month after he pulled out of the series following a one-day series loss to the same opponents in Abu Dhabi.

“Personally I want to see Younis playing in Australia as a Pakistan player. I don’t think his career is over by any stretch of imagination, He is still a top Test batsman,” Butt told reporters on Sunday. He added that Younis’s form would be assessed by national selectors.

The PCB has appointed Mohammad Yousuf as skipper for the three-Test series in New Zealand and said it would decide on the captain for the Australia leg later. Butt said he was confident Younis would resume playing domestic cricket soon so that it was easier for the selectors to finalise the squad for Australia.

“I believe he can still contribute a lot more runs to the Pakistan team. I can’t say whether it will be as captain or just a senior player but I definitely want him to play in Australia,” Butt said.

Butt also played down questions about Younis not playing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. “He has just returned from England after attending the ICC captain’s conference. I am sure he will be playing domestic cricket soon,” he said.