‘Hapless’ Younis says he should not be blamed for team’s defeat against Lanka

October 6th, 2009 LAHORE - Defending captain Younis Khan, Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said that batsmen should be blamed for the defeat against New Zealand in semi-final match of the ICC Champions Trophy. "Batsmen were responsible for the national team's defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final and not captain Younis Khan who dropped the catch of Grant Elliot," Alam told media persons at the Allama Iqbal International Airport here.

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 13th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has stepped in support of middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf, saying he needs time to settle down after staging a comeback following a long lay-off from international cricket. "He is back in the team and before that he was out of international cricket for quite a while.

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 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 27th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has vehemently denied rumours of divisions in his team, saying he would step down if such a problem existed. In an emotional interview to Daily Jang Monday, Younis stressed that there were no problems in the Pakistan team and speculations of infighting in the dressing room are being spread by some people with vested interest.

July 15th, 2009 KARACHI - Former Pakistan cricketers have blamed poor team spirit for the team's defeat to Sri Lanka in the Colombo Test. The Pakistan batting order collapsed like a house of cards in the second innings of the second Test match on Tuesday resulting in a seven wicket loss.

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 8th, 2009 KARACHI - A fortnight after their team's World Twenty20 triumph at Lords, Pakistan cricket fans had a rude awakening Tuesday when Younis Khans men crashed to a 50-run defeat in their first Test against Sri Lanka from a seemingly winning position at Galle. The defeat means that Pakistan's poor run in Test cricket continues as it has failed to win a single Test in the last 30 months.

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.

June 30th, 2009 LAHORE - With the return of middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf in the team, the Pakistan team management is undecided over how to utilize all rounder Shoaib Malik, and is now thinking of pushing the former captain up the batting order. Malik, who has been in indifferent form with the bat in the recent past, may be asked to open the batting with Salman Butt in the first Test against Sri Lanka, which begins from July 4 in Galle, team sources said.

June 26th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan captain Younis Khan Friday asked his team to put behind the celebrations of their World Twenty20 triumph and focus on the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka that begins June 27. We will have to leave our World Cup win behind and focus on what is a very tough assignment against Sri Lanka, Younis, who led Pakistan to the World Twenty20 championship win in England earlier this month, said at a reception hosted by Habib Bank Limited (HBL).

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 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.