Pakistan selectors drop Younis Khan

Pakistan Cricket Selectors have left out Younis Khan from a 16-man squad and retained middle-order batsman, Mohammad Yousuf as Captain for the three-Test and five One-Day Internationals against Australia.



Former Captain, Younis opted to rest after scoring only 22 runs as Pakistan lost the one-day series against New Zealand 2-1 in the United Arab Emirates last month.



Pakistan Cricket Board Chief, Ijaz Butt had urged Younis to end his hiatus from the national team and play against Australia, but the former captain did not compete in the first class tournament to regain his batting form.



Pakistan team will fly to Australia directly from New Zealand after playing three Test matches against the Kiwis with the first Test beginning at Melbourne on December 26.



Shahid Afridi, who will lead Pakistan in the only 20/20 international against Australia, will be Yousuf\'s Deputy in the five-match one-day series.



However, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal was named Vice-Captain for the three-test series.



The team for the One Day International series against Australia will be named after the second Test ends at Sydney on January 7, 2010.