No division within Pakistan team: PCB chief

Karachi:

PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt has rubbished reports of division within the Pakistan team following their Test series defeat in Sri Lanka.

"There is no chance of any groupings within the team as captain Younis Khan has good relations with the other players," Butt told reporters in Lahore.

Speculations about groupings within the team have come up after Pakistan's dismal batting display in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka.

Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has added fuel to the fire by stating that he could smell there were groupings within the team.

Former skipper Shoaib Malik, vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and opener Salman Butt are among those who are rumored to be not in favour of Younis.

But the PCB Chairman said the rumors were baseless and the team had to taste defeat as it was trying to come to terms with Test cricket after a long hiatus.

"We have not played much Test cricket in the past two years and that is the reason the boys are struggling, but in both the matches they fought hard. In the first Test in Galle we could have won but for a batting collapse on the fourth day," Butt said.

He also defended Younis' captaincy, insisting there were no plans to change the experienced right-hander.

"Look it is no joke to keep on changing the captain all the time. We can't make changes after one or two defeats. It does not work that way," Butt said.

Butt lauded Younis' leadership and said winning the Twenty20 World Cup in England was not a small achievement.

The PCB chief insisted the players needed some time to adjust to the five-day games.

Pakistan has played just three and half Tests since December, 2007 as their second match against Sri Lanka at Lahore in March was called off after the terrorist attack on the visiting team.