NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Pakistan were determined to put weeks of off-pitch drama and a damaging captaincy row behind them at the ICC Champions Trophy, stand-in captain Younis Khan said on Saturday.

Confusion has surrounded Pakistan cricket in the last 48 hours since Younis, named as deputy for banned skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, quit on Thursday, refusing to be a “dummy captain” amid apparent resentment from other senior players.

Middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf was appointed only for Younis to be given the job again hours before arriving in India.

“What has happened has happened,” Younis told reporters when the team arrived.

“I was down in the last two days. But now my effort, whether we play four or five matches, would be to help my team fight till the last ball.

“It is a matter of pride to lead Pakistan. I'm here to lead from the front. You will see that in my body language.”

Younis and coach Bob Woolmer were bombarded with questions about the controversy, which came after the ball-tampering row that led to the team forfeiting the Oval test against England in August. Both, however avoided any comments on the extraordinary saga which transpired in the last 72 hours.

Younis said he was pleased to return to India, where his batting exploits on the 2005 tour helped him to cement a place in the side.

“We've come with a balanced side,” he said. “Inzamam is not there which is a big loss. But we have the kind of all-rounders others don't have.”

Woolmer said his players would overcome the distractions.

“It has been a dreadful month-and-a-half,” he said. “But we will put all the baggage back, in the dustbin.”

“I'll use this tournament to look at the strategies of the teams we will be playing at the (2007) World Cup,” he said.

Pakistan, who are in pool B with former winners South Africa and New Zealand, open their campaign against a qualifier on Oct 17.—Reuters