The Pakistani cricket team management said middle order batsman Younus Khan will lead the side in the third Test against India, beginning in Bangalore on Saturday, amidst reports that he declined to take up the captaincy to replace injured Shoaib Malik.
"The team management denies reports that Khan has refused to lead the team and there is no truth in these reports. Khan will lead the side in the third Test," Pakistan team's media manager Ehsan Malik said.
Reports said Khan, who scored a match-saving century in the drawn Kolkata Test, was not happy over team selection for the second Test in Kolkata and wanted captaincy on his own terms.
They also said that Mohammad Yusuf, another middle order batsman for Pakistan, was also unwilling to lead the team in the coming Test.
Malik, who sprained his ankle and did not play the second Test, was ruled out of the Bangalore Test also.
It is learnt that Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf's timely intervention averted a crisis in the Pakistan cricket camp.
Sources within the Pakistan camp said Ashraf had a long discussion with vice-captain Younis and convinced him to lead the side after the prolific batsman protested over the domineering attitude of the Board and team management.
"Younis was not happy at the way he was not consulted in team selection matters for the second Test. When he asked the Board to send uncapped pacer Abdul Rauf, the Board and the team management agreed upon having Rao Iftikhar as a replacement (of Sarfraz Ahmed)," the source said.
"This disturbed Younis a lot and he refused the captaincy in protest. But now the crisis is over."
The source added that Younis wanted to make a point that he is not a dummy captain and if he has to lead the team, the management and selectors have to listen to his suggestions.
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