Pakistan cricket chief Ijaz Butt Monday rejected captain Younus Khan's resignation, saying Younus's reaction to match-fixing allegations was natural and there was no reason to replace him. "We have not accepted Younus's resignation and he will lead Pakistan in the next month's limited over series against New Zealand next month," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Butt told reporters after a governors' meeting.
Younus, 31, resigned as captain last week in protest after a lawmaker levelled match-fixing allegations against the Pakistan team over its defeats against Australia and New Zealand in the recent Champions Trophy. Younus tendered his resignation to Butt after appearing before a meeting of a parliamentary committee during which the team was cleared of match-fixing.
Younus then met Butt in Lahore and offered to resume the job, on condition that he was made captain until the 2011 World Cup. Butt, however, refused to set any tenure for Younus. "When I made him captain earlier this year I did not set any tenure, so there will be no fixed tenure. As long as Younus is fit he will remain our captain and I hope that he leads Pakistan until the 2011 World Cup," said Butt.
Pakistan is due to play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates early next month before touring New Zealand and Australia for Test series. Butt praised Younus's leadership qualities. "He is a good captain, he led Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title," said Butt of Pakistan's triumph in England in June. "Then Pakistan beat India and reached the semi-final in the Champions Trophy, which was a big success.
"His reaction to match-fixing allegations was natural and had I been in his place, my reaction would have been the same. This was unacceptable, so we now want the team to get settled for the next series under Younus." Younus replaced Shoaib Malik in January this year following Pakistan's 2-1 defeat in the home one-day series against Sri Lanka.