June 23, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 07, 1428

LAHORE, June 22: A revolt-like situation is looming over naming opener Salman Butt national team’s vice-captain as some cricketers under Shahid Afridi are to meet the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf in Islamabad, most probably on Saturday.

Reliable sources and some players confirmed to Dawn that some of the squad members were demanding a senior player to be appointed as Shoaib Malik’s deputy.

“A group of six players will travel from Abbottabad to meet the PCB chief in Islamabad in the afternoon to express their viewpoint against the decision to select Salman.

“They have also complained about the PCB officials, especially Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan, for the unnecessary interference in the players’ affairs,” sources said.

Salman was appointed as the vice-captain in place of Mohammad Asif on Sunday in Bhurban by the PCB ad hoc committee.

The team members have also complained about manager Talat Ali, claiming that he had unnecessarily created a controversy when he asked Afridi to leave the seat of vice-captain (Salman) in the coaster in which the players were coming from the training camp to the hotel.

In fact, Salman, while regarding Afridi a senior player, had voluntarily vacated the seat for him. However, later Afridi and Talat exchanged hot words, the sources said.

Sources added the PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi had also visited the camp on Thursday before leaving for London soon after hearing about the unrest among the cricketers.

He tried to sort out the matter but it seems he could not achieve desired results.