What Prompted Younis to decline Captaincy

Although Younis Khan clearly stated the reasons for him not taking up Pakistani Captaincy after the World Cup debacle and Inzamam's eventual retirement from one day cricket, citing "I am still hurt and upset at the sort of hostile reception we have got since returning from the World Cup. I have always given 100 percent for my country. But when your family gets threatening calls and our effigies are burnt and our pictures put on donkeys, then I can't lead the team in such circumstances", a lot of rumors have still been circulating at what really transpired behind closed doors which led to Younis's refusal and eventual mentioning of the fact that he might consider retiring from one day cricket all together. These rumors are especially fuelled by the fact that this is not the first time Younis has hastily refused captaincy under similarly mysterious circumstances but citing different reasons.

The latest rumors are that Younis's current decision actually stems from his earlier refusal before the start of Champions Trophy last year. Some unnamed PCB officials have been privately saying that Younis have been really unhappy with a group of players within current Pakistani team who have not even been at speaking terms with him since before last years champions trophy primarily because the way he handled the team in the absence of Inzamam during his tenure as Pakistan's vice captain. This is the reason why Younis initially asked for full powers from PCB before his last appointment as Captain for ICC Champions Trophy citing that he didn’t want to become a dummy captain. Same officials also confirmed that PCB wanted Younis to take over captaincy this time and ensured him full support but he refused. They further disclosed that PCB even tried using Imran Khan to convince Younis but Imran refused to speak to him saying "he was upset with the way Younis had surrendered". Imran openly criticized Younis's decision in the media mentioning that “It is useless trying to convince Younis to lead the team if he does not want to do it. But what he did was wrong." Amid all the speculations PCB finally appointed Shoaib Malik as the new captain effectively putting an end to their efforts of convincing Younis to reconsider.

There is no doubt that Younis has been one of the most hard working cricketers in the current Pakistan side who never gets satisfied with his performance and always strives to improve. Initially a batsman of limited ability his sheer determination and commitment to the cause has seen him through some tough phases of his career. Whenever he has been dropped, he has always come back stronger. In fact Younis didn’t become a regular player in the Pakistan team until his return to the side during the home series against Sri Lanka in October 2004. He was the top run getter during the disastrous series in Australia and the defining movement of his career came on the tour of India when he was appointed vice captain of the side and he repaid the faith by scoring a century in the second test and a match winning double century in the final test. Since then he has become one of the most consistent batsmen for Pakistan scoring centuries in different conditions and different surfaces. In between this short span of time Younis had to deal with not one but at least three huge family tragedies including the deaths of his father and his two brothers one elder and one younger than him. Looking at how he was dealing with these difficult times all the while scoring hugely for Pakistan tells you a thing or two about his mental toughness. This makes his current decision of declining to Captain the Pakistani side look all more perplexing and mind-boggling.

There is no doubt that Younis's current decision doesn’t stem from Pakistan sudden defeat in the World Cup but it is more because of the loss of Bob Woolmer. Looking at Bob Woolmer's coaching stints with South Africa and Pakistan, it becomes obvious that Woolmer played a huge role in helping lesser players become major contributors and critical component of their sides. Players like Hansie Cronje, Lance Klusener, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and up to a certain extent Younis Khan have Woolmer's foot prints all over their careers. In fact Woolmer had tremendous respect for Younis Khan, who he used to call "Little Hansie" for his energy and impact on the team. Woolmer had no doubts about the abilities of Younis Khan and that was the reason why he felt at a loss of words to explain his disappointment when Younis initially declined to Captain Pakistan during the ICC champions trophy late last year. Considering Pakistan's dreadful performance since then and Dr. Nasim Ashraf's revelation after Woolmer's death that Woolmer didn’t want to continue with Pakistan after his current contract expired, it becomes increasingly clear that something was not quite right with the Pakistani Cricket. Was it the administrators or some members of the playing squad, its all open to speculations but it is certainly something very serious that Younis didn’t want to indulge with, hence his decision to stay away from the top job.

This is not the first time that some one in the Pakistani team has taken such a bold step. People like Rashid Latif and Basit Ali effectively ruined their careers by letting emotions getting the better of them. This is increasingly looking like the same case. All throughout his playing career Younis has been close to Rashid Latif, who he also regards as one of his best friends. This tells us how he might have caught the Rashid Latif bug of letting emotions take over the mind.

It is a time tested formula that you are not going to become great until you earn greatness through your deeds. Sadly for Pakistani cricket and all those cricket lovers out there, Younis had the opportunity to earn this greatness by taking over the challenge instead he decided to run away from it. He effectively let his mind be taken over by his heart. At a critical juncture for his country Younis has decided not to show up. He could have overcome the adversity, like he always did during his career, by using his skills and sheer determination, Instead, he has backed out without a nerve to fight, a trait everyone expected of him. There is not a shade of doubt in my mind that if he showed the same determination and toughness he has shown all throughout his career, things would have eventually fallen in place and he could have become a great captain along with being a great player.