Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt has dismissed reports that he had ruled out the possibility of Shoaib Akhtar's return to the national team and said the injury-plagued pacer will have to prove his worth in domestic tournaments to be considered for a place.

"It is not fair that such statements are attributed to me. I never said anything like this because how can a Chairman of the board pass such remarks against a player who is our centrally contracted player and wants to play for Pakistan again," Butt said.

"Like any other player, he must play at the domestic level and prove his fitness and form to win a place in the national team," he added.

During his recent England visit, Butt was quoted by the media as saying that he did not see controversial Akhtar playing for Pakistan again after his knee surgery and liposuction.

Meanwhile, the PCB Chairman also said that during the London visit regular captain Younis Khan has conveyed his intention to tour Australia next month.

Younis had opted out of the ongoing three-Test tour to New Zealand after his team lost the One-Day series to the Kiwis in Abu Dhabi.

The PCB has appointed senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf as the stand-in skipper for the New Zealand tour but made no decision on who would lead the team in Australia.