Younus offers to stand down

Younus Khan on his return to Karachi from the Champions Trophy, where Pakistan exited at the semi-final stage

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Younus Khan has offered to resign as Pakistan captain in protest over accusations of match-fixing during the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Pakistan lost to Australia in their final group game, leaving arch-rivals India with no chance of advancing, and then went down to New Zealand in the semi-finals in a match they had been considered favourites to win.

The defeat sparked outrage in Pakistan and chairman of the National Assembly standing committee on sports, Jamshed Khan Dasti, alleged that Younus and the team had thrown the matches against Australia and New Zealand.

Dasti, a member of the senate, later back-tracked on those allegations, but asked Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt, Younus and coach Intikhab Alam to appear before the National Assembly in Islamabad today.

Vice-captain Shahid Afridi was also present for the meeting, which was called to probe Pakistan’s losses in the Champions Trophy.

The Pakistan skipper was grilled at the meeting, prompting his decision to resign.

“I could not stand criticism from all and sundry as it was affecting my performance. That is why I resigned,” Younus told The Dawn newspaper.

Younus added he would rather play as a batsman than a captain.

Intikhab confirmed Younus’ decision to resign, saying: “It was an emotional decision on Younus’ part to tender his resignation.

“We have rejected match-fixing allegations at the meeting.”

Butt, however, has refused to accept Younus’ resignation and is expected to take a decision later today after a discussion with the player.

One of Pakistan’s most prolific batsmen, Younus took over the captaincy in January this year after Shoaib Malik was stripped off the role.

Younus scored a magnificent triple hundred in the aborted home Test series against Sri Lanka - a terrorist attack on the tourists’ team bus curtailed that series - and led Pakistan to ICC World Twenty20 glory in England in June.

He also presided over heavy defeats in a Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka prior to the Champions Trophy.

Should Butt accept Younus’ resignation, Afridi, who already leads Pakistan’s Twenty20 side, is a frontrunner to take over the reins.