Players coterie opposes Salman Butt's elevation as vice-captain

Lahore, June 23 (UNI) All is not hunky dory in Pakistan cricket, with fresh controversy in the offing as some senior players led by Shahid Afridi is set to meet PCB chairman Naseem Ashraf over the elevation of opener Salman Butt in the vice-captaincy post.

According to reports some senior members of the Pakistan Team were demanding the induction of a senior player as Shoib Malik's deputy.

The report said a group of six players will travel from Abbottabad to meet the PCB chief in Islamabad to express their viewpoint against the decision to select Salman Butt for the post.

''They have also complained about the PCB officials, especially Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan, for the unnecessary interference in the players' affairs,'' the report added.

In a major revamping step after the World Cup debacle, the PCB appointed Butt as the vice-captain in place of pacer Mohammad Asif.

The members also complained about team manager Talat Ali, claiming that he had unnecessarily created a controversy when he asked Afridi to vacate the seat of vice-captain in the coaster while they were returning from to the team hotel from the training camp.

In fact, the southpaw, voluntarily vacated the seat for Afridi, regarding him as the senior player.

However, later Afridi and Talat exchanged 'war of words', the 'Dawn' reported.

The enviroment in the dressing room was so vitiated that PCB's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shafqat Naghmi had to visited the camp on Thursday before leaving for London soon after hearing about the unrest among the players.

The COO tried to sort out the differences between the players, but could not achieve the desired results.

UNI