London, November 18: Veteran batsman Younis Khan has quashed suggestions that he is being undermined by opting out of Pakistan’s tour to New Zealand and asserted that he will soon be back in cation for the national team.
Younis accompanied PCB chief Ijaz Butt at Headingley last evening at the launch of Pakistan’s Test series with Australia in England next year.
”This is my wish to lead my country in Yorkshire. I’m a local pro, so I have good memories,” said Younis.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named Mohammad Yousuf as captain immediately after Younis opted out of the three-Test tour to New Zealand.
Younis however, first wants to recuperate from an arduous few months, which had seen his leadership called into question and could return to the Pakistan team for the January Test series in Australia.
”The last couple of months I’m everywhere. I need some time for myself and to build myself again.
”I’ll decide if I should join the team in Australia – I’ll be in the team soon,” the 63-Test veteran told Press Association.
Some of the senior Pakistan players approached Younis to encourage him to tour New Zealand, but he insisted on taking a break.
”They all came and said ‘come on captain, we need you’.
”They’re talking in the media saying ‘it’s not good, he should be playing a couple more years’ so I think I’ll be with them.” Asked whether Younis would return as Pakistan captain, Butt replied ”It just depends when he comes back. We have an open mind.
”He himself said that he wanted to rest. Every good cricketer
has a bad patch. But he’s a very great cricketer, there is a tremendous amount of potential in him still.
”And we would like to utilise it as best as we can,” Butt added.
—–Agencies