Cover Drive
14th October 2009, 02:51
ISLAMABAD: Former cricket greats on Tuesday blamed political interference for Younis Khan’s decision to resign as Pakistan’s captain, calling it a blow to the sport in the country.
“Politicians have no need to interfere in cricket and they have not only snatched our captain but have damaged the game badly,” former captain Ramiz Raja said after Younis offered his resignation.
“Our honourable captain was insulted by the investigation and we acted on baseless allegations,” said Raja.
Another former captain, Rashid Latif, blamed the media and the PCB.
“I think the media was irresponsible by relaying an inauthentic statement by someone and Younis, being an honourable man, resigned over that. I don’t see him taking his decision back,” said Latif.
But former captain Aamir Sohail termed Younis’s decision ‘emotional’.
“Younis has acted in haste and with emotion. The Pakistan team needs him and he shouldn’t have felt so strongly about the investigation. This is very common in Pakistan, so he should rescind (his resignation),” said Aamir.
Federal sports minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani said he accepted that Younis had been hurt by allegations.
“Players are sentimental and they do not expect such investigations,” Jilani told reporters after the meeting. “I would request the PCB to not accept his resignation.”
http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=203086
“Politicians have no need to interfere in cricket and they have not only snatched our captain but have damaged the game badly,” former captain Ramiz Raja said after Younis offered his resignation.
“Our honourable captain was insulted by the investigation and we acted on baseless allegations,” said Raja.
Another former captain, Rashid Latif, blamed the media and the PCB.
“I think the media was irresponsible by relaying an inauthentic statement by someone and Younis, being an honourable man, resigned over that. I don’t see him taking his decision back,” said Latif.
But former captain Aamir Sohail termed Younis’s decision ‘emotional’.
“Younis has acted in haste and with emotion. The Pakistan team needs him and he shouldn’t have felt so strongly about the investigation. This is very common in Pakistan, so he should rescind (his resignation),” said Aamir.
Federal sports minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani said he accepted that Younis had been hurt by allegations.
“Players are sentimental and they do not expect such investigations,” Jilani told reporters after the meeting. “I would request the PCB to not accept his resignation.”
http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=203086