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In a startling statement made while meeting the Press, Younis Khan has declared he is not accepting captaincy for the Champions Trophy. At a surprise press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, sitting alongside Bob Woolmer, a grave looking Younis told reporters, “I don’t want to be a dummy captain and the reason why I have refused the captaincy will be revealed afterward.” Giving no further details, Younis walked out of the press conference.

A PCB official confirmed to Cricinfo that Mohammaed Yousuf will take over as captain and Abdul Razzaq will act as his deputy. Younis, having apologised to the PCB for his actions, has been retained in the squad.

Younis was appointed captain late last month after the ICC slapped a four-match ban on captain Inzamam-ul-Haq at the hearing for The Oval controversy and has been the official vice-captain for almost two years now.

For a while, Younis’s position in the team, for the Champions Trophy as well as subsequent assignments were in doubt. It has been learnt that during the meeting a few officials were in favour of removing Younis from the team altogether. The idea of a disciplinary committee to investigate his actions and subsequent punishment – including his removal from the team – had been mooted. Ultimately though, Younis apologised for his actions and expressed the desire to play on as a batsman.

Bob Woolmer told Cricinfo that Younis had resigned for a number of personal reasons. “I am very saddened that he has resigned because he is a very good player. I have a great relationship with him. My view is that he has resigned for a number of personal reasons and those reasons are best told by Younis himself. I will get on with my responsibility as coach as best as possible and continue to prepare the team for the Champions Trophy.”

Speculation is rife as to what those reasons are. It has been suggested by some that the inclusion of Faisal Iqbal in the squad as a replacement for Inzamam, without the approval of Younis, triggered the reaction. Another theory argues that Younis was unhappy at being made captain only for the Champions Trophy and not beyond, a decision endorsed by the PCB’s ad-hoc committee yesterday which confirmed their support for Inzamam as captain from the West Indies series onwards. All of this, as yet, remains unsubstantiated.

Younis Khan is a fine player but he is not mature enough yet to be a full time captain. Although he was a loyal vice-captain and acting captain recently, he might have got ideas from ‘friends’ to stop being an under-dog and show the world who is the boss. Recently there were statements from ’senior’ cricketers that Inzi should concentrate on Test cricket only and then Shaharyar Khan gave certain that PCB has not named Inzi as captain of world cup yet. Perhaps this has encouraged Younis to do a coup against Inzi, who was very supportive of him while Younis had the bad patch. Anyways, it seems that Yousuf, who was once disgraced from the vice-captaincy, got his chance now and who knows, he may lead Pakistan in the world cup.

Yousuf has some experience in positions of responsibility; he was official vice-captain before Younis took over on the tour to India in 2004-05 and had captained on occasions when Inzamam was absent.

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