Younis Khan has taken back his resignation, paving the way for his return to the Pakistan captaincy, satisfied that the environment in which he will continue leading the side is now more conducive than before.
Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said on Monday that the board had rejected the resignation Younis handed in last week. At the same time he offered Younis the stability that he has wanted since becoming captain in February this year, saying that, if fit, he will captain Pakistan till the 2011 World Cup.
Younis said he was overwhelmed with the support he had received in the week after he handed in his papers at a National Assembly committee hearing in Islamabad. "I am very happy right now," Younis told Cricinfo. "The faith that the chairman and the board has placed in me again, it's good to know. The support that I have received from the board and the country through this time has been fantastic."
There were believed to be various reasons behind Younis's resignation, though he never openly stated them. It is believed that as well as the suspicions of match-fixing raised in the aftermath of Pakistan's Champions Trophy semi-final loss to New Zealand, murmurs about factions in the team and management working to undermine Younis spurred the move.
Younis met Butt last week and it is understood that he set down some conditions which would have to be implemented before he could come back. Stability of tenure was one, though those close to Younis insist he didn't want an assurance till the 2011 World Cup. A streamlining of the selection process, as well as changes in the team management were thought to be the other conditions.
Younis refused to go into details, however, maintaining only that, "the environment is good right now and I am very happy with it. All that has happened over the last eight months, all the effort is worthwhile now." Younis said he expects to be fit for Pakistan's next assignment, an ODI and Twenty20 series against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Dhoni and Gambhir lead India to World Cup glory
Twenty-eight years on from the match that transformed the history of world cricket, India recaptured the crown that Kapil Dev and his men first lifted at Lord\'s in 1983, and this time they did so in their very own back yard.An iron-willed 97 from Gautam Gambhir was matched for intensity by the finest captain\'s innings since Ricky Ponting in Johannesburg eight years ago, as MS Dhoni trumped a poetic century from Mahela Jayawardene to pull off the highest run-chase ever achieved in a World Cup final.
India vs Australia
Indian cricketers celebrate their massive 99-run victory over Australia in the second ODI match at The Vidarbha Cricket Association, Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck a breathtaking 124 as India put up an all-round display to crush Australia by 99 runs in the second one-dayer to level the seven-match series 1-1, here on Wednesday.
Srilanka beat India in Idea Tri-Nation Series in Bangladesh on January 13 2010
Historically, when it comes to finals of triangular tournaments, Sri Lanka have had the upper hand over India, who in the last decade succeeded in winning just four in 21 finals. A familiar tale panned out in Dhaka, where a frenetic start was followed by an enthralling finish and the result was yet another tournament win for Sri Lanka over India.
Zimbabwe vs Kenya
Charles Coventry congratulates Hamilton Masakadza who made 178 runs and the highest of zimbabwe against Kenya, Zimbabwe v Kenya, 5th ODI, Harare, October 18, 2009. Zimbabwe won the series 5-1.
Champion Trohpy
Australian team celebrates after winning the ICC Champions trophy on October 5, 2009 at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy final match against New Zealand at Supersport park cricket ground in Centurion in Sauth Africa
Champion Trohpy Final
Australia\'s Shane watson and James Hopes celebrates the victory over New Zealand during the ICC Champions Trophy\'s final match in Centurion
India became number one test team first time in the history of cricket
Indian cricketers pose for a team photo after winning on the final day of the third Test against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Sunday, December 6, 2009. India won by an innings and 24 runs, clinching the 3-match Test series by 2-0. They also became the number one Test side for the first time in the history of cricket.
