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Younis refuses to captain Pakistan

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has refused to lead his country in the Champions Trophy in India, a Pakistani Cricket Board official said on Thursday.

Younis announced his decision at a scheduled news conference in Lahore.

He was due to step up vice-captain to replace Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has been banned for four one-day matches.

Inzaman was suspended for bringing the game into disrepute as a result of Pakistan's refusal to take the field after the ball-tampering furore on the fourth day of the fourth test against England at the Oval in August.

"I don't want to be a dummy captain and the reason why I have refused the captaincy will be revealed afterward," Younis told reporters at the press conference in Lahore.

Younis was scheduled to give a full press conference ahead of the team's departure for Jaipur on Saturday but instead he turned up, uttered one sentence and left.

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."

The PCB was holding an emergency briefing at its headquarters in Lahore between chairman Shaharyar Khan and other officials.

Stylish 28-year-old batsman Younis has led Pakistan in two Tests and two one-day internationals, winning and losing one each in both forms of the game.

Pakistan open their Champions Trophy campaign against a qualifier in Jaipur on October 17.

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