Senior players will be missed: Waqar Younis

Lahore:

Pakistan cricket team will take some time to settle in absence of banned seniors players, feels the new coach Waqar Younis.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, taking a disciplinary action, had recently banned and fined seven players.

Waqar, a former Test captain who reached here yesterday to take up his new assignment, said the bans and fines may affect team's performance initially.

"Obviously any team would miss players of the calibre of Muhammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik or Rana Naved. I hope that the remaining experienced players in the side provide full support to the youngsters in the team," Waqar told reporters at the airport.

The PCB has banned prolific batsmen Yousuf and Younis indefinitely and imposed one year bans and fines of two million rupees each on Malik and Rana.

Waqar is expected to meet the PCB Chairman soon and sources say his views would be sought on the captain for the T20 World Cup, Pakistan's next international assignment.

"As far as the captaincy issue is concerned that is for the Board Chairman to decide. But obviously I have my views on this and I will convey this when I meet him," he said.

Waqar felt that the national team's performance could be improved by injecting discipline and confidence into the team.

The former fast bowler, who is settled in Sydney, is reported to have told the Chairman that lack of discipline and cohesion in the team were the major reasons for the poor performances in Australia.