Younus back to lead Pakistan

Younus Khan will back at the helm when Pakistan take on rivals India in the ICC Champions Trophy on Saturday.

Skipper returns from injury to face old foes

Younus Khan will back at the helm when Pakistan take on rivals India in the ICC Champions Trophy on Saturday. The batsman suffered a hairline fracture to a finger during a warm-up game and opted to skip the team's tournament opener against the West Indies, which they won by five wickets. The return of the captain will bolster the batting line-up that faltered against a second-string Caribbean side, being reduced to 76 for five chasing just 134 to win. Stand-in skipper Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal saw them home without any further setbacks, but the steady hand of Younus will be key to their chances of victory against India's pace attack. Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik expects the game to live up to all the hype. "It is the most eagerly-awaited match, both for the crowd and for the players, because if you perform well and help your team win you become and instant hero," he said. Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma and RP Singh lead a strong bowling line-up despite the absence of Zaheer Khan, as India get their campaign under way.