I can't teach my teammates to field: Younis

Pakistan's captain Younis Khan has lashed out at the sloppy fielding by his teammates and asked them to lift their standards ahead of the crucial match against the Netherlands in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament. "I cannot take a stick and start caning them if they misfield. It does not work that way in international cricket. Each player must realise his own individual responsibility in the team," Younis said on his 'captain's corner' show on Geo TV after Sunday's defeat against England. Pakistan dropped at least four chances and misfielded several times as they collapsed under the pressure of their first match in the Twenty20 World Cup. Former Test players and critics have said that Younis needed to be more strict and aggressive on the field with his players to stop the declining fielding standards of the team. "Fielding is something you work hard on as individuals to improve. It depends purely on a player how much interest he has in fielding and how much time he gives on practicing this art," Younis said. "They are professionals and they must know their responsibilities. We must lift our fielding standards because in Twenty20 cricket fielding lapses cost you the game," he added. Younis also defended his decision to field first against England, saying that the weather and forecast of rain had influenced his decision on winning the toss. "We felt that England was playing under pressure and if we got couple of early wickets and restricted them to a low total, it would become easier for us when we batted because of the rain forecast and the duckworth lewis method would have come into play. When it is raining it is difficult to chase down a total," he said. Younis Khan had landed in trouble earlier when he had commented that Twenty20 was played just for fun and it would not be a disaster even if his team fails to make the Super Eights stage. After the team's loss to England on Sunday night, Younis went on to say that failing to reaching Super Eights would not be a disaster. "It would be sad if we don't make it but I have never attached too much importance to Twenty20 cricket, as it is fun cricket," Younis said. His candour, however, failed to impress the Pakistan Cricket Board, which has asked for confirmation and explanation from the management about Younis' comments. "The statement has not pleased anyone, including former Test players and critics because it shows a total lack of respect for the feelings of the people and the passion with which they are following the performance of their team in the World Cup," a board official said. A former Test player, requesting anonymity, went on to question Younis' integrity and said, "If he is not interested in playing Twenty20 cricket then why did he go to England in the first place?" Incidentally, Younis had already upset the PCB with his statement on the security conditions in Pakistan, which the team management in England is busy denying. Younis reported told reporters in England that the country was in a state of war, even though Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed dismissed the claim. Younis' statement upset board officials, who are set to meet ICC officials on June 15 to resolve the issue of whether Pakistan should host its share of the 2011 World Cup matches at home.