Australia, Lanka favourites in Champions Trophy

Jaipur, Oct 6 (UNI) Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram today sided with Younis Khan and said the player might have refused captaincy owing to some differences with the team management.

Addressing a press conference here, Akram said Pakistan team was always mired in one controversy or the other and he came to know about the Younis-episode in India only.

''I am not aware of the exact reasons for Younis Khan to refuse captaincy,'' said the former Pakistan skipper.

''He is a straight forward person and he will not take such a decision without sufficient reason. He may be upset with the Pakistan team managment for some reason or the other,'' Akram.

However, he said the contorversy was not going to have any major impact on Pakistan's chances in the Champions Trophy.

''We -- the Pakistani cricketers -- have a very short memory and the team will leave behind the controversy and try to perform their best as a unit in the upcoming tournament under the new captian.'' He said Australia and Sri Lanka were the favourites to win the Champions Trophy. Speaking about India's chances, he said, ''India obviously have the home advantage but it also brings extra presuure on the players.'' On out-of-form Irfan Pathan, Akram hoped the Indian left-arm paceman would come out of the slump soon.

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