PCB rejects Younus' resignation, Afridi to lead in T20s

New Delhi:

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ijaz Khan on Monday rejected Younus Khan's resignation as Test and ODI captain, while all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been appointed Twenty20 captain.

Younus will now lead the side till 2011 World Cup.

PCB's Governing Council gave the reins to Afridi to lead Pakistan's title defence in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Championship in the Caribbean in May.

Younus, on the other hand, had offered to step down as Pakistan skipper last week amid match-fixing allegations following their Champions Trophy ouster.

Butt said that he had not accepted the resignation and that if Khan remains fit, he would lead the Pakistan team at the next World Cup.

He also said there was no reason to accept Khan's resignation as he had steered his team to victory in the Twenty20 World Cup in England, defeated India in a Champions Trophy group match and also qualified for the semifinals of the tournament in South Africa.

"With so many performances this year do you think he should be changed?" Butt asked reporters.

The PCB chief said had he been in Khan's place, he too would have resigned after the allegations surfaced when Pakistan lost the last group game against Australia and later the semifinal against New Zealand.

"He reacted after so many things happened and I would have done the same had I been in his place," Butt said.

Khan was appointed captain earlier this year after Pakistan lost a one-day series at home against Sri Lanka under Shoaib Malik's captaincy.

Pakistan is scheduled to play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates next month before playing three test matches in New Zealand.

The series was shifted due to security concerns in Pakistan.

Pakistan play three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates next month.

(With agency inputs)