Younis blames poor domestic set-up for Lankan rout

September 11th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan skipper Younis Khan believes that captaincy is much of a burden for cricketers in the sub-continent. In an interview with Urdu daily Jang, Younis said that a captain makes more enemies than friends in the sub-continent.

September 6th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Sunday there were indications that the Tamil Tigers were involved in the March 3 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan. Gilani told reporters that investigators have got indications to suggest that the Tamil Tigers had financed the attack in which a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers was fired at by gunmen near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

September 6th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was the mastermind behind the attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 3. The Pakistan Prime Minister's statement was in complete contrast to what the Government had claimed before, that Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was behind the attack.

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 10th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has rebuffed match-fixing allegations levelled against his side saying that his team-mates earn well enough not to participate in corrupt practices for extra money. The News quoted Younis as saying that match-fixing might have been possible in the 80s and 90s, as players could be lured into corrupt practices because of lower wages.

August 8th, 2009 KARACHI - Following the Pakistan cricket team's dismal Sri Lankan tour, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to overhaul the team management. The News quoted PCB sources, as saying that the team's manager and assistant manager are likely to be sacked, while the coach and captain will be asked for an explanation once the team returns home on August 13.

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 16th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan is aghast with the way several former cricketers have criticized him after losing two consecutive Test matches against Sri Lanka, and blamed poor team spirit for humiliating defeats. In an interview with a private television channel, a visibly upset Khan said he should not be blamed for the below par performance of senior players.

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.

June 21st, 2009 LONDON - After leading Pakistan to World Twenty20 title Sunday, Younis Khan dropped a bombshell when he announced his retirement from the shortest version of the game. "I am already 34 and probably too old for this kind of cricket," said the senior batsman who was Pakistans most prolific run-getter in the tournament.

June 17th, 2009 LAHORE - Police have arrested the mastermind of the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus outside the Gaddafi Stadium, according to CCPO Lahore Pervaiz Rathore. Naik Muhammad alias Zubair is described as the mastermind behind the gruesome attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in March which led to abandonment of all international cricket in Pakistan, including the 2011 World Cup.

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.