 Finally
we have a decision on Younis Khan future as captain, the ardent skipper
of Pakistan cricket team who stepped down from captaincy just recently because
of match-fixing controversy that surrounded the game after he dropped a crucial
catch in the semi-final match against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy.
Ending the guesswork happening over Younus Khan's future as captain of the
Pakistan cricket team, Ijaz Butt, chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board
cleared it yet again that he has not accepted Younus Khan's resignation and
insisted that Younus would remain ODI captain till World Cup 2011.
There were speculations happening for days that Younus had kept some conditions
before taking charge as captain again but Butt did not speak much about the
conditions and extended all his support to the cricketer. Butt said that when
he had first appointed Younus Khan in January 2009 there was no such tenure
decided for his captaincy but confessed that at times security is required.
He also added that Younus "is definitely our captain till 2011 World Cup
provided he remains fit". Butt agreed that his performance had been excellent
as a captain and a player too, as he has remained fit and brought laurels to
the country by winning the Twenty20 World Cup. He also said that as long
as the selectors would be picking him up, he would remain "our choice as
captain".
While Younus has not yet commented on the decision but Butt informed that Younus
has agreed to take up captaincy again.
Butt had rejected the resignation earlier also, and had preferred to meet Younus
privately. He had rejected the resignation during a Press conference that took
place at the Gadaffi Stadium Lahore empathising with the hurt skipper.
He had said that he completely understood why Younus resigned from his position
as captain and believed that if he had been in Younus's place, he too would
have taken the same decision.
It was speculated that during his meeting with Butt, Younus had asked for a
longer tenure as captain till 2011 World Cup so that he could bring stability
in the team and prepare the team likewise for the next big challenge. It was
also said that he had laid down the condition to streamline the selection process
and shrink the selection panel in number including only coach, captain and a
member of the selection committee at home and captain and coach on overseas
tours for the selection of final eleven.
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