Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi (Photo- Twitter)
Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi (Photo- Twitter)

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has opened a can of worms claiming that senior players like Shahid Afridi and their captaincy ambitions led to the players’ revolt against him in 2009. Younis Khan had led the Pakistan team to the T20 World Cup title that year but was then unceremoniously dropped from captaincy.

This revelation comes days after Younis stepped down as Pakistan team batting coach owing to differences with the management. Younis claimed that the revolt was not carried out because the players were unhappy with his captaincy style or strong attitude. Ironically after Younis stepped down as captain in 2009, it was Misbah Ul Haq and Shahid Afridi who were given reins of the Test and white-ball teams.

Younis Khan, Misbah Ul Haq and Shahid Afridi (Photo- Twitter)
Younis Khan, Misbah Ul Haq and Shahid Afridi (Photo- Twitter)

One Senior Player, Apparently Afridi Demanded The Captain Be Changed. To Me It Was About Captaincy Ambitions: Younis Khan

Younis Khan is the first and only Pakistan batsman to date to score more than 10,000 runs in Tests. He played 118 Tests making 10,099 runs at an average of 52.05 with 34 centuries and the best score of 313. He played 265 ODIs, making 7249 runs at an average of 31.24 with 7 centuries and a best of 144. He also played 25 T20Is, making 442 runs with the best of 51.

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Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi (Image Credit: Twitter)

“If the players had problems with me they could have spoken to me. They claimed that they didn’t want me removed as captain but just wanted the cricket board to speak to me to change my attitude. Then how is it that when the player (s) met with the then PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt, one senior player, apparently Afridi demanded the captain be changed. To me it was about captaincy ambitions,” Younis Khan told a TV channel.

Younis further revealed that a player (Umar Akmal) had walked into his room in order to ask for the Holy Quran so that the players could recite some surahs (religious verses) before an important match.

However, Khan claims that the Quran was used to ask the players to take a pledge on it that they would not disclose whatsoever that was being conversed at the revolting player’s meeting during the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed’s Rudeness Led To Me Announcing My ODI Retirement In 2016 So Abruptly: Younis Khan

Younis also opened up about his infamous decision to abruptly retire from ODIs before a match against England and said that since he was no longer a regular part of the 50-over setup, he had been mulling over the decision. But what pushed him over the edge and retire was then chief selector Haroon Rasheed’s rudeness when he went to him to consult about his decision.

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Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2008
Younis Khan[photo: Twitter]

“On the night before the match chief selector, Haroon Rasheed called me and I told him I was thinking about retirement from ODIs. He turned around and told me rudely that it was up to me but he had got me selected for the series against England and I should just listen to the team management and play,” Younis said.

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