More than a decade later, former Pakistan skipper Younis Khan has opened up about the 2009 players revolt against him, claiming that it had a lot to do with the captaincy ambitions of seniors like Shahid Afridi.
According to Younis, the revolt was not carried out because the players were unhappy with his captaincy style or strong attitude.
“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,” Younis told a TV channel, as quoted by PTI.
“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,” he added.
Younis also revealed that a player (said to be Umar Akmal) had come to his room to ask for the Holy Quran and took it saying he wanted to recite some Sarah’s before an important match.
He further elaborated that the same Holy Quran was later used to ask the players to take oath on it for not disclosing anything that was discussed at the revolting players meeting in South Africa during the Champions Trophy.
Incidentally, Younis resigned in late 2009 and the duo of Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq were appointed captains of Pakistan’s white and red-ball teams, respectively.
Younis Khan also opened up on the infamous incident when he abruptly announced his retirement from ODIs in 2016 on the day before a match against England.
“It was not abrupt at all. I had made a decision beforehand I would retire from ODIs as I was not selected in the ODI eleven for the last two years.
“On the night before the match chief selector, Haroon Rasheed called me and I told him I was thinking about retirement from ODIs and 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 (Younis) should just listen to the team management and play as they wanted.”
“I was very upset with his tone and that is why I announced my retirement the next morning.”
(With PTI inputs)
