Khan admits various factors led to resignation

Younus Khan has hinted his offer to resign as Pakistan captain was prompted by other "problems" and not just the recent match-fixing allegations.

The 31-year-old offered to quit at a hearing before the National Assembly's standing committee on sports in Islamabad yesterday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet decided whether to accept Younus' resignation, with chairman Ijaz Butt saying he hopes to convince the batsman to change his mind.

The National Assembly hearing was convened by the committee's chairman Jamshed Ahmed Dasti, who had sought an explanation for Pakistan's defeats - in a group match to Australia and the semi-final to New Zealand - in the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Dasti himself had accused the Pakistan team of throwing matches, but later back-tracked on those allegations.

Yesterday's hearing ended in uproar, but the committee exonerated the Pakistan team of match-fixing and said it was satisfied with Younus' explanation.

Younus, however, was not happy.

He told Geo Television: "It is sad and painful for me and, in fact, I am hiding from my family members after these nasty allegations of match-fixing.

"I have never fixed a match and never will.

"By resigning, I did what I thought was the right thing to do.

"I have worked hard to keep this team united for the last eight months despite problems.

"I don't want to elaborate on them but the last eight months have been tough for me and I have still tried to do my best as a player and as a captain to unite the team.

"I have always tried to lead from the front and I may have made some mistakes, but my actions have been in the best interests of the team.

"So when anyone accuses me or the team of deliberately throwing matches then I have no option but to resign."

Younus has twice before rejected the captaincy, suggesting he wanted the leadership role on his own terms.

He said he was not averse to leading Pakistan again, but wanted a clear path.

"I will have a very frank discussion with the PCB chairman whenever he invites me to discuss my resignation," Younus said.

"There are some issues need to be sorted out like the term of my captaincy."

Younus also indicated he would not render explanations before the National Assembly in future.

"My job is to perform as a player," he said.

"The board and team officials are the ones who are the right authority to give answers if anyone wants to know anything about the team."