I wanted to play against Ponting: Younis

Karachi:

Pakistan skipper Younis Khan is disappointed that Ricky Ponting has been rested for their up coming one-day series as 'duel' with him would have tested his leadership skills better.

"I was looking forward to playing against Ponting as he is one of top captains in the world while I have just started. The decision by the Australian selectors to rest some of their key players deprives us of playing against the best Australian team but certainly the return of Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds will strengthen their squad," Younis said.

"I rate Pointing as one of the finest captains in the world today and certainly it would have been a great duel with him," Younis said.

Younis refused to believe that Australia's recent defeats make them a vulnerable side.

"I do not think we can easily win this series just because they have lost recently to India and South Africa. Those defeats were not surprising since they have dominated international cricket for so long and their bad patch was bound to come and don't forget they have lost some great players," he contended.

Australian selectors today rested Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Mike Hussey for the one-day series ahead of their Ashes tour to England and handed the captaincy to Michael Clarke while recalling Lee and Symonds.