Pak team divided into warring groups: Sources

Pakistan cricket coach Geoff Lawson may have rubbished reports that team was not united but if sources are to be believed all is not well in the Pakistan team and even some players are questioning credentials of Lawson as an international coach.

After the team received a drubbing form the arch-rivals India in the tri-series league match, Lawson had said, "It is incorrect to say that there is no harmony in the team."

However, the sources in the team say some players are not happy with Lawson and captain Shoaib Malik.

"If you were here in Dhaka you would clearly see there is a split in the team with seniors like Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi forming their own group and keeping a distance from the captain and coach," one source in the team told PTI.

"Some of the players are not getting along with Lawson after his recent radio interview in which he hit out directly at them and criticised them for their attitude and performances without taking any names."

Lawson's decision to go and play golf, instead of arranging a practice with his team one day after the big defeat against India has also been played up in the Pakistani media.

"Lawson himself is proving to be a totally different coach from late Bob Woolmer and some players are now openly discussing within the team if the former Australian is qualified for the international job.

"You might soon see a move to pressurise the Board to remove Malik as captain and sack Lawson as coach. Players power in Pakistan cricket has always held sway and influenced key decisions," the source said.