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| April 14, 2007 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1428 |
Younis turns down captaincy offer
KARACHI, April 13: Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has rejected an offer to captain the national team after Inzamam-ul-Haq quit following their dismal World Cup performance. Younis said he had turned down the offer from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to captain the side and that his decision was final.
“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,” Younis said on Friday.
Younis, vice-captain to Inzamam since 2005, said he was only thinking about his future as a senior player of the side.
“I am even contemplating retiring from One-day Internationals and just playing Test cricket,” he added.
The player said 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,” he said.
Younis leaves on Saturday for England to play for county side, Yorkshire for the season. He is the first Pakistani player to be given a contract by the club.
“I am still hurt and upset at the sort of hostile reception we have got since returning from the World Cup,” he said.
“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 advised the PCB against taking any hasty decisions to ensure Pakistan cricket recovers and made clear Pakistan would never find another coach like the deceased Bob Woolmer.
“He was a very good man and great coach. I just hope anyone who is named coach has the right man management skills.”
Younis criticised the Jamaican authorities and police for treating the players like criminals following the death of Woolmer.
Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room and died later in hospital on March 18, one day after Pakistan were beaten by Ireland and eliminated from the World Cup.
Jamaican authorities are treating his death as a murder.
“At one stage I got so angry with the way we were being treated I told the Jamaican authorities we are international cricketers not criminals,” Younis said.
“I told them why are you suspecting us of murdering Woolmer. In him we have lost a father figure.”—Reuters
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