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. He just played in the Indian Cricket League and there is a difference between ICL and international cricket. He did not play international cricket for more than a year now and any cricketer staying out of the game for this long would need time to adjust,” Khan said.

Yousuf, who came back in the Pakistan team after the PCB lifted the ban on him which was imposed following his joining the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), failed to impress during the just concluded Sri Lanka series.

He hit a gritty century in the first Test match of the three match series at Galle, but looked awfully out of form in the one-day series.

Earlier, taking the responsibility for humiliating defeats both in the Test and One-Day series in Sri Lanka, Khan said he would not succumb to pressure to resign.

“I accept the responsibility of defeat, but will not apologise to anyone nor will I resign as captain because it’s part of the game to lose and win,” Khan said.

Khan, 31, lambasted critics and former Pakistani cricketers who have launched a relentless attack on him for team’s dismal performance during the Lanka series.

“I am trying my level best to lead the team and achieve the best results but some people want me to relinquish the captaincy, which I won’t. Am I not a good captain, or do I lack leadership qualities?” he said. (ANI)