PCB stands by Younis Khan, Alam amid match-fixing allegations

October 11th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan is uncertain about playing in the series against New Zealand starting next month in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Wasim Bari told mediapersons that Khan would soon meet board chairman Ijaz Butt and brief him about his finger injury that he sustained just before the ICC Champions Trophy.

October 10th, 2009 LAHORE - Following Pakistan's failure to make it to the ICC Champions Trophy final, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to name flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi as captain of the one-day squad. Afridi, who is also Pakistan's T20 captain, met PCB officials, including chairman Ijaz Butt at the Gaddafi Stadium here.

October 9th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt has rubbished match-fixing allegations leveled against captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam. Butt said the match fixing charges leveled by National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports chairman Jamshed Dasti were 'baseless'.

October 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Dejected by the match-fixing allegations, Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said he has been deeply hurt by the controversy. Alam said the allegations were so appalling that even former Indian Test captain Bishen Singh Bedi had called him for booting his morale.

October 7th, 2009 KARACHI - Adding fuel to the match-fixing allegations, former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan has said that the Indian lobby along with the officiating umpires might have fixed Pakistan's semi-final tie against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy. While rebutting the National Assembly's Sports Committee's allegations, Khan said the poor level of umpiring during the semi-final clash has raised doubts He said the Pakistani cricketers appeared 'overconfident' during the match, but added that the match-fixing allegations from the standing committee against the team were 'baseless'.

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 26th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has once again denied match -fixing allegations during the Sri Lanka series, asking cricket fans not to believe and pay attention to such rumours. Terming the reports about Pakistani players being approached by Indian bookies during the Sri Lanka series as 'baseless' and 'far from truth', Alam said such allegations affect the morale of the players.

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 13th, 2009 LAHORE - Accepting responsibility for humiliating defeats both in the Test and One-Day series in Sri Lanka, Pakistan captain Younis Khan has 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.

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 11th, 2009 LAHORE - Notwithstanding rumours of rift in the Pakistan cricket team and match fixing allegations during the just concluded Sri Lanka One-Day series, captain Younis Khan has said his team would win major tournaments in next two years. Interacting with media persons after winning the fifth and final match of the ODI series, Khan said he had a pool of 20 cricketers in mind who will win 'either the Champions Trophy this year or the 2011 World Cup.' He expressed hope that if selectors and team management supported him and players perform according to their capability, Pakistan can surely pocket major tournaments in near future.

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 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board is unlikely to take any legal action against former players who have voiced fears of players being involved in match-fixing during the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt had said he was consulting legal advisors to take action, but board insiders have ruled out any defamation suit against the former players.

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 8th, 2009 LONDON - The Pakistan cricket team is never short of controversies, as barely six months after the change in captaincy, differences seems to have crept-in between Coach Intikhab Alam and captain Younis Khan. Both the captain and coach are going poles apart when it comes to matters concerning the team, The News reports.