Younis cleared to play for South Australia

Younis Khan, the Pakistan batsman, has received clearance from the PCB to represent South Australia as their overseas player this domestic season, starting next month. Younis will fly to Australia after taking part in Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 championship in Lahore, set to begin on October 4, and the four-nation quadrangular Twenty20 tournament in Canada, which starts six days later.

"Younis has taken clearance from the board before he signed his contract with South Australia," Zakir Khan, the Pakistan board's director of cricket operations, told Reuters. "He is due to leave soon. But he has to make himself available for national duty when he is required."

Younis was sounded out by South Australia back in May after several senior players had quit. After looking at their own talent and failing to capture any significant interstate signings, the struggling team decided to look for an overseas recruit. The Redbacks finished second-last on the Pura Cup points table ahead of Queensland, with two wins out of ten.

Younis, though, is likely to miss the opening game of the Redbacks' Sheffield Shield campaign, starting on October 14 against Victoria at the Adelaide Oval.