Lahore, Nov.14 Younus Khan has claimed that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt had asked him to continue as skipper when he expressed a desire not to be included in the team touring New Zealand next week.

"He (Butt) wanted me to continue as captain, but I asked him to excuse me," Khan was quoted, as saying.

While reports in the media suggested that Khan has only taken a break from the hectic schedule, and would come back in the squad following a short break, the former captain himself said that it would be premature to say whether he would be leading the side again or not.

"It is premature to say whether I will captain of the side in the future, it all depends what the situation is," Khan said.

Khan admitted that he was going through a rough patch in his career, and thus decided to take a break from international cricket to focus on the weak points.

"If I was not scoring runs, how could I question other batsmen. That's why I decided not to put the burden on the team and take a break from international cricket," The Daily Times quoted Khan, as saying.

"If I rediscovered my batting form, only then I will give my availability to the cricket board," he added.

The PCB has appointed middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf as the captain of the Test team for the New Zealand series.. (ANI)