Younis asks team to focus on Sri Lanka tour

August 22nd, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan's former fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz feels that team captain Younis Khan should retire from international cricket and hand over the mantle to Shahid Afridi. Sarfaraz, 60, said that Younis has failed as a captain and should be replaced by Afridi.

August 20th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan cricket selection committee led by chief selector Iqbal Qasim has decided to get a feedback from coach Intikhab Alam and captain Younis Khan before selecting the 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in South Africa in September. According to sources, Qasim has decided to consult both Alam and Younis Khan before picking the team for the mega event.

August 12th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan refused to talk to journalists gathered at the Karachi International Airport, when he returned home after the Sri Lankan tour on Tuesday. The Daily Times quoted Younis as saying: "I don't want to make any comments now, we will talk later." It is believed that Younis was unhappy at the negative media coverage showered on the side during the Sri Lanka tour.

August 12th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan captain Younis Khan has defended Mohammad Yousuf in spite of his below-par showing in the recently-concluded one-day series against Sri Lanka, saying that the premier batsman will take his time to adjust to the demands of international cricket. Younis said Wednesday that Yousuf has returned after a gap of over a year, and that there is a big difference between playing the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and international cricket.

August 5th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistani skipper Younis Khan has blamed the flawed domestic set-up for Pakistan cricket team's dismal ODI series loss to Sri Lanka. "Instead, the poor structure back home is to blame.

August 3rd, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan captain Younis Khan has appealed to cricket fans to stop blaming 'groupism' in his team for its below-par performance in the current tour of Sri Lanka. Younis said in an interview Monday that he believes the main reason for his players' failure to play well during the tour lay in the poor structure back home.

July 15th, 2009 COLOMBO - Upset over his team's defeat in the second Test match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan captain Younis Khan has said he needs more time to 'rebuild' the team which has played "very little cricket over the last 18 months". Talking to media persons here, Khan said the players needed more time to adapt and blamed the lack of international exposure for the team's lackluster performance in both Test matches "Give this team some time, don't point fingers too early.

July 7th, 2009 GALLE - Pakistan captain Younis Khan today said that team's lack of Test cricket-just three Tests in the last 18 months -- had proved costly, as they slumped to a 50-run defeat by Sri Lanka in the first test in Galle. "I never thought we would lose this game because we needed only 97 runs today with eight wickets in hand.

July 3rd, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan all rounder Shahid Afridi has said that Sri Lanka Test series would be challenging for the players, as they would have to change gear from the Twenty20 format of the game to the five-day mode. Afridi said players would also have to make adjustments due to the different and challenging weather conditions in Sri Lanka.

June 30th, 2009 COLOMBO - As middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf makes his way back into the Pakistan team for the Test series against Sri Lanka, captain Younis Khan has said performance, and not big names, matter in the game. Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a function where the trophy for the Test series was unveiled, Khan expressed hope that his team would start from where it had left in England after winning the ICC World Twenty20 Championship.

June 27th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan's cricket team left for Sri Lanka on a 45-day tour with coach Intikhab Alam promising that his players will translate their World Twenty20 triumph into a forceful Test performance. The players left in two different batches from Karachi and Lahore but were scheduled to assemble in Dubai en route to Colombo where they will feature in a three-day practice game starting June 29.

June 22nd, 2009 LONDON - The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the forthcoming Sri Lanka tour. Shahid Afiridi has been dropped due to an ankle injury, while experienced batsman Mohammad Yousuf and veteran bowler, Abdul Razzaq make their comebacks to the team following an extended hiatus due to their engagement with the "banned" ICL in India.

June 21st, 2009 LONDON - Pakistan captain Younis Khan said their World Twenty20 title was a 'gift' to their strife-torn nation. The talented Pakistani team, which entered the tournament as underdogs, made a mockery of the favourites tag as they beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final at the Lord's here.

June 18th, 2009 NOTTINGHAM - Once bitten twice shy seems to be the case for Pakistan all rounder Abdul Razzaq, as he has turned down a series of county offers after making a come back in the national squad. Razzaq returned to the international fray for Pakistan in the ICC Twenty20 World Championship after two years of suspension, after he and several other players terminated their respective contracts from the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

June 11th, 2009 LONDON - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan Thursday had a word of advice for his Indian counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni: "Keep your cool man." Asked to comment on Dhoni's recent tussle with the Indian media during the World T20 tournamaent, Younis said that it would be great for Dhoni if he just focuses on his game and his team. "I personally believe that nobody comes after you if you are playing well," said Younis.