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| October 10, 2006 | Tuesday | Ramazan 16, 1427 |
Talat’s blooper leaves Younis embarrassed
KARACHI, Oct 9: Following the pre-ICC Champions Trophy drama, Pakistan experienced more embarrassing moments at the team’s first press conference in New Delhi on Monday.
The briefing, which was originally scheduled for Sunday evening, was postponed until the following day at the request of Pakistan team management which wanted to keep a low profile after a series of dramatic happenings back home.
But the real cause of embarrassment took place in front of a huge media contingent, with more than 150 journalists in attendance, which left Pakistan captain Younis Khan utterly perplexed.
The reason: Younis at least thrice being introduced to the media as Mohammad Yousuf by team manager Talat Ali. The situation was more embarrassing since a number of TV crews were covering the press conference live.
Talat, on his first assignment with the senior squad after replacing Zaheer Abbas as manager, did not realize what had happened until Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, whispered into his ears that he was introducing the wrong man!
It was Talat who stirred the controversy that eventually led to Younis quitting the captaincy when the manager publicly announced that if Pakistan reach the final Inzamam-ul-Haq will be inducted in the team once he had served out his four-match ban.
Vice-captain Yousuf, in fact, was elevated as captain after Younis quit with Abdul Razzaq being appointed the new vice-captain.
But two days later Younis was reinstated after Shaharyar M. Khan was replaced as PCB chief by Dr Nasim Ashraf.
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