LAHORE: Veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf on Saturday stepped down as captain of Lahore Lions in favour of Pakistan’s Twenty20 skipper Mohammad Hafeez in the ongoing National T20 Cup.

According to the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) President, Khawaja Nadim Ahmed, the decision was taken by Yousuf of his own free will and reports about the ageing star being pressured into it were baseless.

“It was a big gesture by Yousuf and he stepped down as captain on the pretext that Hafeez was the Pakistan captain and therefore the right choice to lead Lahore Lions in the T20 tournament,” Ahmed said.

He said Yousuf had a meeting with Hafeez and conveyed his decision to him.

“Hafeez initially did not agree to it but Yousuf convinced him.”

Hafeez, who was appointed Pakistan’s T20 captain in May this year, was surprisingly snubbed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the role originally but right before the start of Lions' first match against Karachi Zebras at Gaddafi Stadium, Yousuf announced his decision.

The LCCA president rejected claims that Yousuf had taken the decision after coming under pressure from certain quarters of the PCB.

“It has nothing to with PCB and this is the personal decision of Yousuf,” he added.