'Senior players should rally around Younis Khan' - Afridi

'We have left all the off-field incidents behind us' - Shahid Afridi © Getty images

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistani allrounder, has urged his senior team-mates to rally behind Younis Khan, the new captain, and stated emphatically that the recent captaincy turmoil would not affect the morale of the team.

"All the senior players like me have to shoulder the responsibility and rally around new captain Younis Khan,'' Afridi said. "The team have settled down after what happened back at home and we all are eager to perform under new captain Younis Khan. We have left all the off-field incidents behind us and now all the boys are focussed on the Champions Trophy.''

Younis, named captain in place of Inzamam-ul-Haq, who is serving a four-ODI ban following The Oval furore, stepped down the next day refusing to be a "dummy captain". Mohammad Yousuf replaced him but in yet another dramatic turn Younis was reinstated soon after.

Afridi, who smashed a 45-ball century in India last year, said he was looking forward to playing on Indian pitches where he had done well both as a batsman and bowler. "I'd love to open an innings on sub-continent pitches, but I think it will not be easy now as I have been playing down the order for quite some time."

Afridi, who has so far scored 4,860 runs in one-day internationals, said he has adjusted himself according to the team's requirements. "I don't know what number I will bat [in the Champions Trophy], but my job is to play for the team and contribute to its success."

"Batting has always been a plus point [four hundreds and 26 half-centuries] but I think I can also provide crucial breakthrough with my bowling," said Afridi, who has grabbed 192 wickets in 230 matches.

Afridi did not pick any team as his favourite to win the Champions Trophy. "You can't single out one team because any team can win. It's not a game of individuals because you can win matches only if the whole team performs. It is a very big tournament for every team because whoever wins it, it will be a big plus for them ahead of next year's World Cup."

Pakistan open their campaign at Jaipur on October 17 against the winners of the Sri Lanka v West Indies match.