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Yousuf is Pakistan's skipper for Kiwi tour
Source: Agencies |
November 12, 2009, Thursday
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MOHAMMAD Yousuf will captain Pakistan in New Zealand after Younus Khan asked for a break from international cricket for the tour, the PCB said yesterday.
"That is why the board has decided to appoint Yousuf as captain and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as vice captain for the test tour," a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said. Pakistan starts the first test in New Zealand on November 24.
The change in captaincy comes after Pakistan lost a one-day series to New Zealand in Abu Dhabi this week amid growing criticism of Younus' poor batting form and local media reports suggesting he had lost the confidence of his teammates.
He survived a revolt after the Champions Trophy in October when a group of senior players complained to board chairman Ejaz Butt about his attitude towards them.
But the board rejected their demands and would not accept Younus' resignation, asking him to continue as captain until the next World Cup in 2011.
However, Butt told the Geo Super television channel yesterday that "Younus has taken the correct decision at this time to take a break from international cricket.
"The decision to appoint Yousuf as captain for the New Zealand series has been taken in the best interests of Pakistan cricket."
Yousuf, 35, is the most senior player in the team having played 82 tests and 278 one-day internationals. He rejoined the Pakistan team on the test tour of Sri Lanka in July-August after having resigned from the rebel Indian Cricket League in which he played for one season.
Former cricketers had questioned Younis' leadership qualities as Pakistan surprisingly left out Yousuf from the series decider in Abu Dhabi. Younis himself could score only 0, 19 and 3 in the three innings as Pakistan batsmen struggled on placid wickets of Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Under Younis' leadership, Pakistan lost the one-day series against Australia in the UAE and also lost both limited overs and test series in Sri Lanka. However, Younis successfully led Pakistan to victory in the Twenty20 World Cup before he quit the shortest format of the game and Afridi was named captain for T20.
"That is why the board has decided to appoint Yousuf as captain and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as vice captain for the test tour," a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said. Pakistan starts the first test in New Zealand on November 24.
The change in captaincy comes after Pakistan lost a one-day series to New Zealand in Abu Dhabi this week amid growing criticism of Younus' poor batting form and local media reports suggesting he had lost the confidence of his teammates.
He survived a revolt after the Champions Trophy in October when a group of senior players complained to board chairman Ejaz Butt about his attitude towards them.
But the board rejected their demands and would not accept Younus' resignation, asking him to continue as captain until the next World Cup in 2011.
However, Butt told the Geo Super television channel yesterday that "Younus has taken the correct decision at this time to take a break from international cricket.
"The decision to appoint Yousuf as captain for the New Zealand series has been taken in the best interests of Pakistan cricket."
Yousuf, 35, is the most senior player in the team having played 82 tests and 278 one-day internationals. He rejoined the Pakistan team on the test tour of Sri Lanka in July-August after having resigned from the rebel Indian Cricket League in which he played for one season.
Former cricketers had questioned Younis' leadership qualities as Pakistan surprisingly left out Yousuf from the series decider in Abu Dhabi. Younis himself could score only 0, 19 and 3 in the three innings as Pakistan batsmen struggled on placid wickets of Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Under Younis' leadership, Pakistan lost the one-day series against Australia in the UAE and also lost both limited overs and test series in Sri Lanka. However, Younis successfully led Pakistan to victory in the Twenty20 World Cup before he quit the shortest format of the game and Afridi was named captain for T20.
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