Batsman Mohammad Yousuf is expected to be named as Pakistan captain for the Champions Trophy after Younis Khan told the country's cricket board on Thursday that he did not want to lead the side at the tournament in India.
Updated at 4.55 pm
LAHORE: Batsman Mohammad Yousuf is expected to be named as Pakistan captain for the Champions Trophy after Younis Khan told the country's cricket board on Thursday that he did not want to lead the side at the tournament in India.
“We have learnt today that Younis Khan does not want to be captain the national side. The likely replacement would be Mohammad Yousuf, who was named vice captain for the tournament,” PCB director of cricket operations Saleem Altaf said.
Altaf added the board would be meeting later on Thursday to make a final decision on the new captain but admitted that Younis' refusal to lead the side had come as a shock.
“We don't think this is the way to do things. If he had any problems he should have discussed it with us first,” Altaf said.
After announcing he was not ready to lead the side in the Champions Trophy, Younis walked out of a news conference in Lahore, refusing to give a reason for his decision.
Younis was named captain after regular skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was given a four-match ban by the International Cricket Council last week for bringing the game into disrepute during the fourth test against England at the Oval in August.
Altaf added that Younis's place in the 14-man squad was unlikely to come under threat although the board would be investigating his decision.
“We will be looking into the circumstances that led to this situation and also will talk to Younis about his behaviour,” Altaf said.
Sources within the team who declined to be named told Reuters that Younis had decided to relinquish the captaincy because several senior players were not happy with his appointment as skipper.
“Younis felt that under these circumstances it would be better for him to play as a ordinary member of the team and do his best for the side,” one source said.
The Champions Trophy opens in Mohali on Saturday with a preliminary round match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The final takes place in Mumbai on November 5.
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