Lahore: 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 Younus 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 Ejaz 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 Yousuf's poor captaincy that the Pakistan team lost good opportunities to win the Sydney Test and some one-day matches as well," the source said.

Coach Intikhab Alam and assistant coach Aaqib Javed also appeared before the committee and the former told the hearing he had not included instance of indiscipline in his report as this was the responsibility of the tour manager and not coach.

Sources said the PCB had strictly told Yousuf and Malik to lay off each other and stop giving damaging statements which was spoiling the image of Pakistan cricket.

Designated manager for Dubai series, Yawar Saeed told newsmen that the board 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.