Younis the first choice for captain: chief selector

Pakistan’s chief selector, Mohsin Khan, revealed on Saturday that his committee’s first choice for captain was Younis Khan, but due to his unavailability, Misbah-ul-Haq was pulled from the brink of retirement into Pakistan’s most controversial and coveted position.

“We needed a senior player to strengthen our batting line-up,” Mohsin said. “Our first choice was Younis Khan but we didn't get any clearance [from the PCB], after which we discussed the option of recalling Misbah and decided to go for it.”

The revelation is particularly surprising since it is the first time the selection committee has openly thrown its weight behind Younis who remains out of the Pakistan squad due to what many sources have claimed as ‘personal issues’ with the star batsman.

Younis remains on the sidelines despite having his ‘disciplinary’ ban lifted in June this year and Mohsin believes that is also something that went in Misbah’s favour.

“In a team where many of the players have had serious disciplinary problems, Misbah is one guy who has a neat and clean background,” Mohsin said. “He is a thorough professional and one of the fittest players in our country, which is another big plus point.”

Misbah will captain Pakistan in the two-Test series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi in November. He becomes the fourth man, after Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt, to captain Pakistan in Tests in 2010 alone.