Islamabad, Mar.23 (ANI): Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has described the ban and fines imposed on some of the senior players by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as an act of ‘revenge’ by former team manager Yawar Saeed.

In an interview with PakPassion.net Ali denied there being any rift between Mohammed Yousuf and Younis Khan, and criticised the PCB for sending Younis to Australia for the one-day series and not during the Test series, as was being demanded by Yousuf.

He said during his stint as the skipper, Younis Khan had wanted a young team and support staff but the PCH chairman Ijaz Butt appointed ageing Saeed as the team manager, which gave way to altercations in the dressing room.

“When Younis became captain, he wanted young and committed people with him. Unfortunately, Ijaz Butt gave him elderly people, such as Yawar Saeed, and a rift started, leading to the bans now,” Ali said.

He also questioned the selective imposition of bans on players only, asking why the team management was not fined or banned as well for the poor show in Australia.

“Why is it just the players? Aqib, Intikhab, etc were there too, but are not banned? In fact, Intikhab was made Director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), so he has been given another good job, why?” Ali asked.

Ali said the prime reason behind Younis’ resignation from captaincy in 2009 was ‘politics’ in the dressing room, and added that the PCB would be ‘forced’ to appoint the skipper once again for the forthcoming tour of England.

“Younis was the only true patriot amongst all these players. In my view, Younis Khan will definitely play for Pakistan again and mark my words, he will be captaining the Pakistan team against England this summer,” he predicted. (ANI)