Tuesday 4th August 2009
"Defeats down to domestic flaws"
Younus Khan believes a flawed domestic structure is to blame for his team's recent Test and ODI series losses to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match ODI series against Pakistan with a crushing six-wicket win in the third match in Dambulla.
The hosts' one-day series triumph came hot on the heels of a 2-0 series victory in the preceding three-match Test series, the visitors losing the first match inside four days and the second inside three.
"Players have a faulty technique"
Pakistan's abject display has been criticised by former players, many of whom have put the defeats down to a lack of unity in the squad.
Younus, however, blames the defeats on faulty techniques of his young players.
"The problem with Pakistan cricket is that our domestic structure is flawed," he said.
"The players have a faulty technique and they can only overcome these shortcomings once they start playing for the national team.
"Even when I first came into the Pakistan team, my technique was not good. It took me two years to get it right," he said.
Younus explains
Younus also refuted claims his team was fragmented.
Those reports were fuelled by Younus' own admission to Geo TV after the loss in the first ODI that vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq should be dropped.
Misbah was omitted for the second and third matches, but it failed to halt Pakistan's slide.
"I have a perfectly fine relationship with all the players in the team including the senior players," Younus said.
"I am not a mad man and I don't go out fighting with everyone."
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