LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected Younis Khan’s resignation and appointed him skipper of the national team until the 2011 World Cup, provided he remains fit till then. “He will continue as captain until the World Cup in 2011, if he stays fit,” PCB chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters after a PCB governing council meeting here on Monday. “With so many performances this year do you think he should be changed?” he asked, pointing to Pakistan’s Twenty20 World Cup triumph in England, victory over India and reaching the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.
Upset and annoyed Younis submitted his resignation during a hearing of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports in Islamabad last week. The hearing was convened after committee chairman Jamshed Dasti accused the Pakistan team of tanking matches against Australia and New Zealand ‘on purpose’. Dasti said he would investigate reports that Pakistan had deliberately under-performed against Australia and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy that concluded on October 5. Dasti later denied making match-fixing allegations and said his remarks had been misunderstood.
Ijaz, however, rejected the resignation and opted to meet Younis privately instead, in a bid to change his mind. It is believed that at the meeting Younis laid down conditions which had to be accepted before he could return: he wanted to streamline the selection process, an assurance of a lengthier tenure than just on a series-by-series basis, and also changes in the team management. Pakistan cricket was also abuzz with stories that some senior players were against Younis, who, they believe, had become arrogant and behaved like a dictator.
Though Ijaz did not speak of any such conditions or stories of players revolt against Younis, he was unequivocal in his support for Younis. “When I first appointed him in January 2009, there was no tenure for his captaincy but obviously sometimes security is needed. He is definitely our captain till the 2011 World Cup provided he remains fit. His performance has been excellent, he is fit, he has won a World Cup and as long as the selectors keep picking him, he is our choice as captain.” Ijaz also defended Younis’ resignation in the face of the match-fixing allegations, saying it was a natural reaction by the senior player. “He reacted after so many things happened and I would have done the same had I been in his place,” Ijaz said. Though Younis could not be reached for comment, Ijaz said Younis had agreed to take up the captaincy once again. Younis was appointed captain earlier this year after Pakistan lost a one-day series at home against Sri Lanka under Shoaib Malik’s captaincy.
Upset and annoyed Younis submitted his resignation during a hearing of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports in Islamabad last week. The hearing was convened after committee chairman Jamshed Dasti accused the Pakistan team of tanking matches against Australia and New Zealand ‘on purpose’. Dasti said he would investigate reports that Pakistan had deliberately under-performed against Australia and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy that concluded on October 5. Dasti later denied making match-fixing allegations and said his remarks had been misunderstood.
Ijaz, however, rejected the resignation and opted to meet Younis privately instead, in a bid to change his mind. It is believed that at the meeting Younis laid down conditions which had to be accepted before he could return: he wanted to streamline the selection process, an assurance of a lengthier tenure than just on a series-by-series basis, and also changes in the team management. Pakistan cricket was also abuzz with stories that some senior players were against Younis, who, they believe, had become arrogant and behaved like a dictator.
Though Ijaz did not speak of any such conditions or stories of players revolt against Younis, he was unequivocal in his support for Younis. “When I first appointed him in January 2009, there was no tenure for his captaincy but obviously sometimes security is needed. He is definitely our captain till the 2011 World Cup provided he remains fit. His performance has been excellent, he is fit, he has won a World Cup and as long as the selectors keep picking him, he is our choice as captain.” Ijaz also defended Younis’ resignation in the face of the match-fixing allegations, saying it was a natural reaction by the senior player. “He reacted after so many things happened and I would have done the same had I been in his place,” Ijaz said. Though Younis could not be reached for comment, Ijaz said Younis had agreed to take up the captaincy once again. Younis was appointed captain earlier this year after Pakistan lost a one-day series at home against Sri Lanka under Shoaib Malik’s captaincy.
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