YOUNIS Khan defended his decision to resign as Pakistan cricket captain, saying he was shocked and demoralised by suggestions of match-fixing, but said he had not closed the door on the captaincy.

“What I did was justified because the allegations really hurt me and my family. We are honourable people,” Younis said, a day after tendering his resignation.

“But I am going to meet with the chairman of the (Pakistan Cricket) board this week and I will discuss my future frankly with him,” Younis added.

Younis submitted his resignation to the board chief during a hearing of the National Assembly standing committee on sports in Islamabad.

The hearing was convened after committee chairman Jamshed Dasti said he would investigate reports that Pakistan had deliberately under-performed against Australia and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy which ended last week.

Dasti later denied making match-fixing allegations and said his remarks had been misunderstood.

Younis, who led Pakistan into the semi-finals of the competition, said: “I was shocked with talk about us under-performing against Australia as we defended a low total of 205 against the world champions till the final ball. Such allegations demoralised me and the team.

“I don’t think any honourable and respectable person can tolerate such accusations made publicly. Nothing is more important for me than my self-respect. Cricket comes later.

“The PCB now has to take a decision. I am available to talk to them but I can only rethink my decision on my own terms,” Younis added. “Because of the accusations I couldn’t even face my brother.”

PCB chairman Ejaz Butt said he hoped to persuade Younis to reconsider.

“I know Younus is upset and hurt but I will meet him in the next few days and do my best to convince him to change his mind,” Butt said.

Younus led Pakistan to victory in the Twenty20 World Cup in July and a host of former Test players have urged him to withdraw his resignation.

Cricket fans held a protest yesterday outside the PCB headquarters in Lahore, urging Butt to reject the resignation.

Members of the North West Frontier Province Assembly, in Younis’s home province, demanded that action should be taken against Dasti while the Mutthaida-e-Qaumi Movement, a coalition partner in the government, said it was considering countrywide street protests.

“I am flattered by the support people have shown for me in this time,” Younus said. “It is what makes one proud to be leading his country.” (Eurosport)