Younis rejects, Md. Yusuf ready to accept Pak cricket team captaincy

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has reportedly rejected an offer to lead his national side. Younis said he had turned down the offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to captain the side and that his decision was final.

The vacancy arose after Inzamam-ul-Haq quit following Pakistan's dismal World Cup performance.

"They offered me the captaincy with full powers. The PCB Chairman said they would also be appointing a strong selection committee to back me up. But I refused after thanking them for their offer. I am even contemplating retiring from One-day Internationals and just playing Test cricket," the Dawn quoted Younis as saying.

Younis, vice-captain to Inzamam since 2005, said he was only thinking about his future as a senior player of the side.

He added that he was still shocked and under stress because of the team's poor World Cup performance in the Caribbean and the insulting reaction at home. "I just want to get away from it all. I am still hurt and upset at the sort of hostile reception we have got since returning from the World Cup. I have always given 100 percent for my country. But when your family gets threatening calls and our effigies are burnt and our pictures put on donkeys. Then I don't want to lead the team in such circumstances," he added.

On Saturday, Younis leaves for England to play county cricket for Yorkshire this season. He is the first Pakistani player to be given a contract by the club.

In a related development, master batsman Mohammad Yousuf has said that he was ready to accept captaincy of the Pakistan team, if offered. "Though the PCB made no offer to me, I feel no problem in leading the (Pakistan) team," the paper quoted him as saying at the Gaddafi Stadium here last evening.e added: "I don't see any kind of pressure in captaining the team, and I deserve as I have been the main run scorer, both in Test and one-day cricket for the last year. I always feel honour in representing Pakistan and I feel pleasure to lead the team at this crucial time."

Yousuf, however, refused to comment on the statement of Younis Khan in which he declined the national captaincy. "This is his (Younis) decision and I don't want to speak on his statement," Yousuf said. (ANI)

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