PCB to discuss T20 captaincy issue with Younus

Karachi:

The Pakistan Cricket Board is still trying to convince Younus Khan to reconsider his decision to step down as Twenty20 skipper of the country.

Younus had announced his retirement as the T20 captain after leading the country to the World Cup title in June, but PCB said they will talk to the player to make him understand his importance at the helm of the team.

"PCB chairman Ejaz Butt has tasked the interim chief selector Wasim Bari and manager Yawar Saeed to speak to Younus and make him understand that it is important to have one captain for all forms of the game," a source in the board said.

The senior batsman retired from the shortest version of the game as he felt that age is not in his favour.

T20 captaincy issue has assumed importance in Pakistan as they defend their World Cup title in just nine months time and before that are playing number of matches against New Zealand and Australia.

Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi who is a prime candidate for the post, has also put his weight behind Younis continuing as captain in all forms of the game.

Younis should continue as he was doing a good job but if offered the chance to lead his country he would not decline the offer, Afridi said in an interview.

"It is a great honour to lead Pakistan in any form of the sport. So if an offer comes I will not decline it," he said.

"But Younus deserves a lot of credit for guiding the team to the World Cup last month. He created the environment where the senior players took the responsibility at the right time and it worked well for us.

"Younus never considers from which province or city a player is coming. Quality performance is the top criterion for him to decide whether a cricketer deserves a place in the team or not," Afridi said.