I give India my best wishes: Younis

New Delhi: Pakistan captain Younis Khan said yesterday that it will be a big day for cricket if India and Pakistan meet in the final or semi-finals of the ongoing Champions Trophy.

"We have got good chances of reaching at least the semifinals, Insha Allah," he said, during an open media session here.

"I give India my best wishes that the team does well, because I am a big fan of Rahul Dravid. I will be happy if the two teams meet in a good match like the semifinals or the final. It will be a big day for cricket," he said.

Younis has been particularly prolific against India in recent times as seen during India's tour of Pakistan in January-February and also on Pakistan's tour to India in early 2005.

Younis resigned from captaincy two days before the team left Pakistan over an unidentified issue. Mohammad Yousuf was appointed in his place, but equations changed in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Younis was reappointed.

Younis, who had quit saying that he did not want to be a "dummy captain", declined to go into the issue once again.

Lonely at the top

He, however, said that life as captain could be lonely, unlike other members of the squad and cited his own experience from the last two days that he has been here.

"This has happened with me in the last two days. All the youngsters, like Umar Gul, Imran Farhat and Kamran Akmal in the team used to be with me," he said.

"I have been looking for them for two days. Yesterday, I caught them and asked 'what has happened to you people?' They said that they were giving me 'respect'," he said smilingly, drawing laughter from the gathering.

"I told them if you want to give me respect, give it to me only on the ground," said the amiable batsman from the North West Frontier region.

He said his priority as captain is to keep all players together.

Younis said Pakistan's strength is the four or five allrounders that the team have and their success depended on them.

He mentioned Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malek and Rana Naved Anjum as the key players.