Butt wanted me to continue as Test captain: Younus Khan

November 13th, 2009 LAHORE - Flamboyant Pakistan all-rounder and captain of the T20 squad Shahid Afridi has said that Younus Khan should not have opted out of the Test series against New Zealand starting next week. "He was having problems, but I don't think he should have taken the decision to skip the tour.

November 12th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is under fire for appointing Mohammad Yousuf as the captain of the Test team. Former players and officials have criticized the PCB for the sudden change in the leadership and blamed the board for not standing by Younus Khan, who has been going through a rough patch in his career.

November 11th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday appointed middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf as the captain of the Test team after sacking incumbent Younus Khan. Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal has been made Yousuf's deputy for the series against New Zealand, The News reports.

November 9th, 2009 ABU DHABI - Pakistan skipper Younus Khan is unlikely to be persuaded to change his retirement plan for the Twenty 20 format of the game. "He is a blue-eyed boy of the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, who is also likely to be here for the final ODI against New Zealand on Monday, but will not persuade the captain to change his decision, though Younus is reported to have said that he may consider the decision on public demand and Afridi also offering to step down in his favour," a PCB source said.

November 5th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan's decision to come out of retirement to play T20 cricket once again has not gone down well with the country's cricket fraternity, with both officials and former players criticising Khan for expressing his desire to play in the fast paced version of the game. Barely four months after he bid adieu to T20 cricket after leading his team to win the coveted ICC T20 World Championship in England, Khan, recently, said he is ready to be a part of the national T20 squad if his teammates wanted him to do so.

October 19th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has refused to accept the resignation of Younis Khan as the captain and hoped that he will lead the team till the 2011 World Cup. However, Butt made it clear during a press conference in Lahore that the PCB will not give any guarantees to Younis about his tenure as Pakistan captain.

October 19th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Cricket Board has rejected Younis Khan's resignation, hoping that the batsman will lead the side in the 2011 World Cup. The Dawn quoted PCB chairman Ijaz Butt Butt as saying that he had never accepted Khan's resignation and if remains fit, he would lead the Pakistan team at the next World Cup.

October 18th, 2009 KARACHI - Concerned by the recent controversy surrounding the Pakistan cricket, which was created following the resignation of captain Younis Khan, former cricketers have said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should deal with the issue carefully and avoid taking any hasty decision. Former captain Aamir Sohail said the PCB should act 'wisely' in the case, as Pakistan cricket, which has been going through a tough time, needs some 'mature' decisions.

October 17th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt is a worried man these days as the deadlock between the board and captain Younis Khan, who resigned from the post earlier this week, seems to be far from over. The decision whether to accept Khan's resignation or not has become a headache for Butt, as it was him who had backed Khan for the captaincy after Shoaib Malik was sacked following a humiliating defeat in the home one day series against Sri Lanka.

October 16th, 2009 KARACHI - Enraged Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan, who resigned from the post earlier this week, has said that he would take back his resignation only after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) extends his tenure till the 2011 World Cup, and is given more powers as the skipper of the national squad. During a meeting with PCB chief Ijaz Butt, Khan made it clear that he would roll back his resignation only if the board gives him a guarantee that he would not be sacked from captaincy until the 2011 World Cup.

October 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Younus Khan has resigned as captain of the Pakistan cricket team after the chairman of a parliamentary committee on Sports levelled match-fixing allegations against him. "I could not stand criticism from all and sundry as it was affecting my performance that is why I resigned," The Dawn quoted Khan, as saying.

August 23rd, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt is apparently on a collision course with captain Younus Khan and the Governing Board (GB) members. According to sources, there are reports of an altercation between the PCB chief and the captain.

July 22nd, 2009 KARACHI - Flamboyant Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has come out in support of captain Younus Khan and has attributed the World Twenty20 Championship win to his leadership qualities. Afridi credited Twenty20 World Cup win to Khan's enthusiasm and his never die attitude.

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.

June 25th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has said that he would persuade captain Younis Khan to rethink his decision of quitting the Twenty20 format of the game, The Daily Times reports. Talking to media persons before a reception hosted by the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in honour of the ICC World Twenty20 champions, Butt said he would convince Khan to withdraw his decision.