Thaindian News

By Omar Khalid
Karachi, Nov 11 (IANS) Younis Khan vowed to make a successful return to Test cricket in Australia next month after pulling out of the tour of New Zealand starting from next week.

“I want to tell my fans that I am not finished, I will come back. My country comes first, more than my family and more than myself,” he said after asking the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to allow him to skip the three-match Test series against New Zealand. Pakistan is scheduled to leave for New Zealand Sunday.

The first Test of the series will get underway in Dunedin from Nov 25. Younis’ decision to miss the tour of New Zealand triggered speculations that he had fallen out with some of the senior players in the team during the ODI series against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan crashed to a surprising 1-2 defeat in the series after winning the opening game quite comfortably. Sources said that Younis was unhappy with the lack of support from his team mates and that prompted him to step down.

Younis, however, rejected such reports and said that he has no grudges against any of his teammates.

“I have taken this decision after giving it serious thoughts, since I am not in the best of form I need rest. I must also clarify that I don’t hold any grudges against anybody,” he said.

Younis, who led Pakistan to a memorable title-winning triumph in the ICC World Twenty20 championship in England last June, found himself in trouble last month after his team lost to the Kiwis in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy.

His team was even accused of match-fixing by the chief of a parliamentary sports committee which later absolved Pakistan of any wrongdoing. But Younis was left fuming and resigned as captain. He withdrew his resignation after PCB chairman Ijaz Butt showed complete faith in his leadership and appointed him as captain till the 2011 World Cup subject to his fitness.