Thaindian News

Karachi, May 28 (ANI): Newly appointed Pakistan Test captain Shahid Afridi is in no mood to tolerate any politics inside the dressing room, and has said that those making the atmosphere ‘dirty’ would be kicked out of the team.

In an interview with Geo News, Afridi also said the team badly needed former captain Mohammed Yousuf, who retired from all forms of cricket in March in protest against the ‘indefinite’ ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

He added that the presence of former captain Younis Khan, who was also slapped with an indefinite ban, would be of great importance during the forthcoming ‘home’ series against England and Australia in England.

Earlier, well-informed sources in the PCB said that Afridi wants Younis to be his deputy during the England tour.

“Afridi believes that Younis will be a key player for Pakistan. He sees him as a trustworthy senior, who can support him (Afridi) in his quest to put the Pakistan team on the right track,” sources close to the team revealed.

According to them, Afridi was initially given three names from whom to pick the vice-captain of the team.

The list included opener Salman Butt, veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and middle-order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq.

However, Misbah’s name was axed later as he failed to make it to the list of 35 probables for the Asia Cup.

Sources said that it is not easy for Afridi to get the vice-captain’s post for Younis, as there are number of unresolved issues.

Younis is still serving an ‘indefinite’ ban slapped by the PCB following the disastrous Australia tour.

Most importantly, Younis had been at loggerheads with Yawar Saeed, the current team manager.

Younis had an open spat with Saeed after 2009 World Twenty20 Championship in England, which Pakistan won, and the former captain still believes that the manager played an influential role in ousting him as skipper. (ANI)