PCB gags Yousuf, Malik

Former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik have been warned by the Pakistan Cricket Board to stop giving statements against each other in the media.

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," one source said.

The source said that 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.