Younis ruled out of opening match

Pakistan captain Younis Khan has been ruled out of the team's opening match of the Champions Trophy, against West Indies in Johannesburg on Wednesday, after suffering a hairline fracture on the little finger of his right hand. He picked up the injury while fielding in Pakistan's first warm-up match against Sri Lanka on Friday in Benoni, when he and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal went for a catch in the slips.

Shahid Afridi will lead the side in his absence and Younis will start batting from tomorrow in the hope of being fit for Pakistan's next game, against India in Centurion on Saturday.

Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed, who had initially played down the seriousness of the injury, had a different version to give after Younis went for a fresh X-ray on Monday. "Younis will decide himself on Tuesday after having nets whether he can play the first match," Yawar said. "But even if he does not play against West Indies he will be fit in time for the big game against India on the 26."

Younis, 31, had earlier suffered a minor fracture on his little finger during a training session on Friday, but had downplayed the injury. "It's a little fracture. Nothing serious," he had said. "We will assess it on Monday. Hopefully it should be alright."