Batsman Younis Khan furious at axing from Pakistan's one-day international team

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has taken a swipe at the team's selectors after being left out of their one-day squad.

Disgruntled Khan said on Friday that he would step aside from all cricket for five months as the team is rebuilt, although he questioned the timing of such significant change with the World Cup just around the corner.

Given his recent axing, the 36-year-old is unlikely to be picked for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand given his poor form in limited overs in recent years.

But he remains Pakistan's best middle-order batsman in Tests, where his absence could seriously hurt the team's chances against Australia and New Zealand in upcoming series.

They have hurt me, if you say that I am not in future planning then it hurts. I am fit and I am committed.

"Don't select me, not even in Tests. I sacrifice my future," Younis told reporters in Karachi.

"If we wanted to rebuild the team then (the) World Cup was held four years ago, why are we rebuilding this in the last three to four months?"

The stylish right-hander, who averages over 51 in Tests with 24 centuries to his name, has seen turmoil in the past and has a reputation for his outspoken comments.

In 2006 he refused to stand in for then-injured skipper, Inzamam-ul-Haq, saying he did not want to be a "dummy captain". He went on to lead the team to World Twenty20 glory in 2009, lost the captaincy again, and later refused to take it back when offered.               

And now Younis says experienced players like himself were mistreated by the selectors.

"I came back and then suddenly they said for me, or for players like me, that we have no future. Then who has a future? So a player like me should shoot himself, should we abandon playing cricket?" he said.

"They have hurt me, if you say that I am not in future planning then it hurts. I am fit and I am committed. If they had told me that (last month's) Sri Lanka series is your last then I would have left with respect."

But his outspoken statement could just end up causing more trouble - the Pakistan Cricket Board is already looking into what action it might take against him.

"We have taken notice of his media talk and we are in the process of getting the entire transcript, whatever action will be taken it will be under the terms of the players' central contract," a PCB spokesman said.