Lahore, April 24 (IANS) Pakistan's middle-order batsman Younis Khan has opted out of the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, to be played in Abu Dhabi from May 10, media reports said Tuesday.

Although the selectors had named 39 probables for the training camp that commences Saturday, they were awaiting a confirmation from Younis, reported the Dawn. The final word from Younis was received Monday.

Besides the Peshawar-born player, who recently refused the board's offer to lead the Pakistan team, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, all-rounders Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Azhar Mahmood and Yasir Arafat are busy playing county cricket in England and are also not available for the Abu Dhabi series.

'A few players including pacer Shahid Nazir have asked the selection committee to exempt them due to their prior engagements in league cricket in England,' the chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said.

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