PCB warns Yousuf, Malik over media spat

LAHORE The Pakistan Cricket Board has warned former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik for giving statements against each other Both of them appeared separately before the PCB inquiry committee on Saturday and once again traded allegations against each other, sources close to the committee said. It was the same old story of Yousuf telling the committee members that Malik was a disruptive influence in the team promoting groupings, intrigue and spoiling the environment of the dressing room, PTI quoted a PCB source as saying. Yousuf had categorically told the committee that Malik played a negative role in the team and caused problems for all captains. Malik, who was removed as captain in early 2009 and replaced by Younis Khan, however, denied the allegations. Yousuf also claimed at the hearing that there was a pressure group in the team that performed when they wanted to and let down the captain when they wished. He said unless this culture was changed Pakistan cricket could not move forward at all. He also blamed poor fielding and batting for the defeats in Australia where he was captain. Another source said that Malik had made it clear to the committee members that he was not involved in any politics in the team as he was not interested in the captaincy at all. I am not after the captaincy so why should I create problems for any other captain in the team, Malik was quoted as saying at the hearing. Malik has been named captain for the two Twenty20 match against England in Dubai this month as regular captain Shahid Afridi is serving a two-match ban for ball tampering in the final ODI in Australia. But Malik is believed to have told PCB chairman Ijaz Butt that he had agreed to lead the team for the two matches only and had no future ambitions to captain the side. The source said that Malik had told the committee members that he had every right to defend himself against the repeated statements given by Yousuf against him. Malik told the hearing that it was obvious that it was because of Yousufs poor captaincy that the Pakistan team lost good opportunities to win the Sydney Test and some One-day matches as well, the source said. Designated manager for Dubai series, Yawar Saeed said that PCB had given him completely authority to take action against any player who defied the management and regulations of the team and send him back home immediately. We have told all players clearly they are not supposed to speak to the media without our permission and this time we are dead serious about enforcing this condition, he said.

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