LAHORE, Oct 6 In view of the recent statements reportedly given by a few important members of the national team after it failed to beat New Zealand in the Champions Trophy semi-final, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may face an unpleasant situation in near future in keeping the squad unidirectional under the leadership of Younis Khan.

Soon after the team arrived in Lahore on Monday from South Africa, Shoaib Malik, surprisingly, gave a statement that now he would neither open the innings nor bat at one-down spot, giving an indication that he might not be happy over his batting position in the team.

The right-hander has been switching his batting number time and again from playing in the middle-order to bat as opener, sometimes even coming in to bat at the crucial number three spot. In the New Zealand match, he failed miserably while batting at number three. In the tournament opener against the West Indies the player had also batted at number three, while against India and Australia his batting position was number four.

Well-informed sources said Malik was facing problems in focusing on his performance as he was unable to adjust himself on one position due to frequent changes in his batting position.

Similarly, Shahid Afridi, after reaching Karachi from South Africa, has been reported to have said that Pakistan could not use the power play properly in the semi-final against New Zealand. However, Younis has defended himself in this regard.

It may be mentioned here that Younis took over the reins from Malik after Pakistan lost the ODI series at home to Sri Lanka in February this year. Afridi, who has been appointed Younis's deputy for the ICC Champions Trophy and captain for the Twenty20 format, is the potential candidate as captain after Younis.

As all the three players — Younis, Afridi and Malik — are important to the team's cause in one way or the other, any kind of difference among them could be damaging for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, sources said the PCB think tank was also worried over this possible development.

Though it would not be easy for the board to again change the captain just on the basis of Pakistan's performance in the Champions Trophy, as the Younis-led side won the World Twenty20 crown in England in June.

Keeping the team unidirectional under Younis will be vital for the authorities concerned given Pakistan's next assignment against New Zealand is to start in Abu Dhabi and Dubai next month. Pakistan are to play three Tests (in New Zealand) and three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals against the same team, followed by a long tour of Australia, one of the toughest assignments for any cricket-playing team, comprising Tests, ODIs and a Twenty20.