KARACHI, April 12: Senior batsman Younis Khan’s sudden pull out from the Bangladesh ODI series on Friday once again raised eye brows in the cricketing circles given the long history Peshawar batsman’s mood swings.

His withdrawal coincided with ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit official’s quizzing him over Pakistan team’s alleged link with an Indian bookie just three days ago.

Though PCB said Younis was rested to induct young blood in the team, sources close to the middle-order batsman said his withdrawal was linked to his questioning by the ACSU official, Alan Peacock.

Younis, who had refused to play in the series after Peacock questioned him only to change his mind after intervention by PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf and chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed, has informed the selectors that he wanted to rest as he was not in a proper frame of mind for international cricket.

“It is no secret that Younis was not happy at not being informed in advance by the board officials that an ACSU official was coming to interview him, Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul,” sources close to PCB said.

“He had gone into the meeting thinking it was something to do with development programmes of the ICC as this was the impression given by some of the board officials to him.

“Younis was surprised to see the ACSU official and then being told the reason for his interview on camera,” the sources added.

Peacock had quizzed the three players about their alleged friendship with an Indian national called Annu Bhai and on what basis they had got expensive jewellery gifts from him on Pakistan’s tour of India in November-December last year.

The Indian is said to be on the suspect list of the ACSU as a leading bookmaker but Younis had reportedly told Peacock he had come to know of him through a third party and that the Indian had neither sought any information about any matches nor made any approaches to him or the other players.

The PCB version on Younis’ withdrawal was, however, that the senior batsman had been rested for the last three games as the selectors wanted to give opportunities to new players after Pakistan won the first two matches.

“He has been rested because he also had conveyed to us he wanted a break and the selectors should instead give a chance to some deserving youngster,” team manager Talat Ali said.

Talat disclosed that Younis had been released from the squad and had gone home.

A board official played down Younis’ withdrawal from the squad and said the senior player deserved a rest.

“It is only in series against weak teams like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh that we can try out new blood and give exposure to the top performers of the domestic season. We can’t try this rotation policy against stronger teams and in more important tournaments,” he said.—Agencies