 Younus said the remarks were hurtful to him and his family |
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected captain Younus Khan's resignation, insisting the 31-year-old will stay on until the 2011 World Cup. Younus quit as skipper in protest last week after appearing in front of a Pakistan parliamentary committee following match-fixing allegations. But PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said he had "not accepted" Younus's resignation. "He is definitely our captain until the 2011 World Cup provided he remains fit," said Butt. The PCB chief added that he understood why Younus had quit. "Had I been in his place I would've done the same," said Butt, who sought a private meeting with Younus in an effort to change his mind. Younus angrily quit as captain after Jamshed Dasti, the chief of the National Assembly standing committee on sports, alleged Pakistan deliberately under-performed at the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa last month. Dasti said he would investigate Pakistan's performances against Australia and New Zealand - although the committee cleared the team of any match-fixing charges.  | Nothing is more important for me than my self respect. Cricket comes later |
Dasti later claimed his remarks had been misunderstood and that he had never intended to suggest match-fixing by players. Pakistan, who had already booked their place in the last four before losing to Australia in their final group game, lost to New Zealand by five wickets in the Champions Trophy semi-finals, with Younus dropping the simplest of catches off batsman Grant Elliott. "I was shocked with talk about us under-performing against Australia as we defended a low total of 205 against the world champions until the final ball," said Younus last week. "Such allegations demoralised me and the team. I don't think any honourable and respectable person can tolerate such accusations made publicly. "Nothing is more important for me than my self respect. Cricket comes later." Younus has scored 5,260 runs in 63 Tests - at an average of more than 50 - since making his debut against Sri Lanka in 2000, and succeeded Shoaib Malik as Pakistan captain in January 2009. He has also appeared in 194 one-day internationals and led Pakistan to victory at the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in England earlier this year - before retiring from Twenty20 internationals. Pakistan will fly to New Zealand in November for a three-Test tour.
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