Butt caught in classic catch 22 situation over Younis Khan impasse India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt is a worried man these days as the deadlock between the board and captain Younis Khan, who resigned from the post earlier this week, seems to be far from over. The decision whether to accept Khan’s resignation or not has become a headache for Butt, as it was him who had backed Khan for the captaincy after Shoaib Malik was sacked following a humiliating defeat in the home one day series against Sri Lanka. PCB insiders said there are many members in the board who are against continuing with Khan. Some of the players have also met Butt and told him clearly that they are unhappy playing under him. They said the atmosphere in the dressing room that was already far from perfect under Inzamam-ul-Haq and then Shoaib Malik, failed to improve much under Khan either, The News reports. With Younis Khan demanding more powers as the captain of the national squad and an assurance that he would not be removed from captaincy until 2011 World Cup, the situation has worsened and it would demand great tact from Butt to resolve the crisis. “If Butt accepts the conditions set by Younis, he will have to let go some of the officials that were handpicked by him. Yawar Saeed, the controversial team manager will certainly have to go,” sources privy to the PCB said. Considering past incidents and Butt’s ability to counter delicate issues, the next few days are going to be critical for the PCB chief.