Younis to form players' association

Pakistan captain Younis Khan is keen to launch a players' association and is believed to have already contacted the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) in that regard.

Younis, who met FICA chief Tim May in London during the World Twenty20 in June seeking details about the formation of players' association, said he had discussed the issue with current and former players in Pakistan and was also planning to meet PCB officials.

"I want to work for the betterment of cricketers in Pakistan because there are several players who are in a lot of financial problems," Khan said. "I don't want any confrontation with the PCB and we are not making a group against the board."

Khan, who led Pakistan to victory in the World Twenty20 said he just wanted "to gather the players for their own rights." He is expected to have another sitting with May during the Champions Trophy which begins from September 22 in South Africa.

It is a significant development in Pakistan cricket given the almost constant cycle of players developing differences with one another, or with board officials. Player management is also a fledgling concept here and until recently, most players were not formally represented by any party.

A players association may help resolve situations such as those faced by a number of Pakistan players earlier this year, when they could not take part in the second IPL season, and had to forego considerable earnings after the Pakistan government didn't give them permission to play in India (even though the tournament was eventually staged in South Africa). The players tried to resolve the situation by contacting the president of the country, Asif Ali Zardari (also patron of the PCB) and through their agent, but the matter is still pending.

Many ex-players have long felt such an association was necessary and attempts to organise one have been made before, by Asif Iqbal and Majid Khan among others, but never to any great success. Senior players such as Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik have also voiced their support for such an association.