ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket chief Ijaz Butt will attempt to persuade Yonus Khan to reconsider his resignation as captain in protest at match-fixing allegations.
“I have planned a meeting with him in a couple of days and I hope to convince him,” Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Butt told the Associated Press on Wednesday.
Khan, 31, resigned Tuesday soon after a Pakistan parliamentary standing committee on sports exonerated the Pakistan team of match-fixing charges during the recent Champions Trophy.
“Younus gave me the resignation when I was leaving in my car (after attending the meeting), but I have not accepted it,” Butt said.
The PCB chief said Khan was disturbed by the allegations, which first surfaced in Indian media soon after Pakistan lost the Champions Trophy match against Australia.
Later, the chairman of the parliamentary committee Jamshed Dasti also alleged that Pakistan deliberately lost to Australia in order to prevent India qualifying for the semifinals. “Younus’ life got disturbed after these false allegations, his family members — including his brother — are also not talking to him,” Butt said.
The parliamentary sports committee frequently summons PCB officials, but only has only the power to give recommendations to the prime minister and the president.
“It is their (parliamentarians) right to ask questions from us, but my only request to them is they should not call up players,” Butt said.
“We (the PCB officials) are more than willing to attend such meetings and answer their questions.” Pakistan is scheduled to play three one-day and two Twenty20 games against New Zealand early next month in the United Arab Emirates before playing three tests in New Zealand.
“Younus has done a tremendous job over the last eight months and we really want continuity in the team,” Butt said.
Pakistan won the Twenty20 World Cup under Khan’s captaincy before the Pakistan skipper quit from the shortest form of the game and Shahid Afridi was made Pakistan’s T20 captain.
