ABU DHABI (AFP) Pakistan captain Younus Khan believes victory against New Zealand is within his teams grasp when the two teams meet in the second day-night international of their current series Friday. Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after their convincing 138-run win in the first match here on Tuesday. It would be great if we win the second match and with it the series, and that would be our first series win for one year, said Younus. It is important that we keep the winning momentum. Under Younus Pakistan have this year lost against Australia and Sri Lanka (away). Their last one-day series win was against the West Indies, a 3-0 victory in Abu Dhabi in November last year. Since then Pakistan lost a home series to Sri Lanka in January - which led to Younus taking over as captain from Shoaib Malik. The victory in the first match (against New Zealand) looked easy but after the first 10 overs we were in trouble, said Younus of Tuedsays poor start, in which Pakistan lost two wickets, including his own, with no runs on the board. Opener Khalid Latif (64) added 57 for the third wicket with Mohammad Yousuf (30) and 101 for the fifth with Shahid Afridi (70) before Kamran Akmal punished New Zealand with a quick-fire, 43-ball 67 to help Pakistan reach 287-9 in 50 overs. In reply, New Zealand were out for a paltry 149. We realise that we have to win this (second) game, said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, whose bowlers conceded 107 runs in the last 10 overs of the first match. If we manage to restrict them to 230-240 it would be great, said Vettori, who praised Pakistans spin duo of Afridi and Saeed Ajmal. Afridi has got to another level as a bowler and the partnership he is forming with Ajmal is the real key to Pakistans success, said Vettori. We played Ajmal in the Champions Trophy and know we can handle him. Pacemen Kyle Mills and James Franklin - who both missed the first match because of injuries - practised with the team on Thursday and Vettori hoped they would be available for selection. The third match will also be played here on Monday before the two teams move to Dubai for two Twenty20 internationals, on November 12 and 13. Afridi not part of selection decisions? Bowing to skipper Younus Khans demand, the Pakistan Cricket Board has taken off vice-captain Shahid Afridi and team manager Abdul Raquib from the tour selection committee in the ongoing one-day series against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Raquib said under the new policy only the captain, coach and the chief selector were selecting the playing eleven for every match. In the past, the team manager and vice-captain also used to be involved in this process, he revealed. PCB sources said one of the conditions that Younus had put forth for taking back his resignation as captain after the Champions Trophy was that the team manager and vice-captain be removed from the tour selection committee. Younus had made it clear to the PCB Chairman that only the captain and coach should have this responsibility after consultations with the chief selector either in person or on telephone when on tour, a report said. In the past Younus and coach Intikhab faced problems getting their playing eleven because of the interference of the manager, vice-captain and even some senior players but now they have a free hand to pick their playing eleven, it added. Asif promises top notch performance Gearing up for a Test comeback after nearly two years, dope-tainted Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif says he would try and make up for the lost time in the series against New Zealand later this month. I have not played in New Zealand but have heard a lot about the pitches and conditions there and hopefully if I can get a chance I will make an impact, Asif said. The key is to focus on just cricket and try to make up for lost time, he added. Asif has been picked for the three-match series starting November 24 and the lanky bowler said he would be looking to continue his good domestic form. It has been nearly two years since I played a Test for Pakistan. The good thing is that I have been playing regularly in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches and that has helped me find my rhythm and form and get my confidence back, he said. There is nothing better for a bowler than to bowl in the longer version of the game, he added. The pacer made a comeback to the national team in the Champions Trophy playing just one game against Australia after completing a 12-month ban for failing a dope test in the Indian Premier League last year. In a stormy year, Asif was also fined Rs one million by the Pakistan Cricket Board for being detained in Dubai for 19 days after authorities found a small quantity of hashish in his wallet and deported him without pressing any criminal charges against him.