Just seven days after Inzamam-ul-Haq was vindicated by the ICC's ball-tampering hearing, Pakistan find themselves embroiled in fresh intrigue and controversy after Younis Khan mysteriously refused to captain the side in the Champions Trophy.
Despite being cleared of cheating, the regular captain Inzamam was handed a four-match one-day international ban for bringing the game into disrepute.
Younis was appointed to stand in for him last Friday, but today, at a press conference where he and coach Bob Woolmer were expected to address the media before the team's departure, Younis delivered a one-sentence statement before leaving. "I don't want to be a dummy captain," he said. "The reason why I have refused the captaincy will be revealed afterwards."
After his shock announcement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of operations Saleem Altaf told reporters: "Younis has not told us any reason and we are in negotiations with him. As soon as we get any details we will reveal them to the media."
"I am very saddened that he has resigned because he is a very good player," said the coach Woolmer. "I have a great relationship with him. My view is that he has resigned for a number of personal reasons, and those reasons are best told by Younis himself."
The team is due to depart for Jaipur on Saturday, although whether Younis will be among their number in a playing capacity has yet to be confirmed. They open their Champions Trophy campaign against either Bangladesh or Sri Lanka on October 17.
