Pak cricketers need grooming on conducting themselves: Asif Iqbal

London, Oct 7 (UNI) Pakistan's cricketers need grooming to prevent a situation like Younis Khan's shocking refusal to lead the side just two days before the Champions Trophy as the players don't know how to conduct themselves at the highest level, believes former captain Asif Iqbal.

''The PCB hasn't done enough to groom these cricketers to know how to conduct themselves at this level,'' Asif told 'BBC Five Live'.

Asif said the Pakistan Cricket Board should take the blame for the recent controversy and accept that the players representing the country right now need to be groomed on how to be the sporting ambassadors of the nation.

''I honestly believe the blame has to be taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board, not only for this but for the fiasco that took place a few weeks ago. They have to conduct their own business in such a way that the players have enough confidence in the board to accept their decisions,'' he said.

''It's all about grooming. They are international cricketers, they are ambassadors and very high-profile people. It's not good enough to walk out on to the pitch and score runs or take wickets.

It's more to do with how you represent yourself and how you represent your country,'' he added, stressing the need for cricketers to be more guarded in their approach while representing Pakistan.

Younis had dropped a bombshell by refusing to captain Pakistan, after Inzamam-ul Haq was banned for four-ODIs following the Oval Test fiasco, saying he did not want to be a 'dummy captain'. His announcement was followed by the appointment of Mohd Yousuf as the skipper of the side for the Champions Trophy in India.

Iqbal felt the 'dummy captain' issue was not behind Younis' decision and said the prolific middle-order bat would come out with the real rason in the coming days.

''I believe it's nothing to do with being a dummy captain, it is more to do with something that he hasn't disclosed yet,'' the former skipper said.

''When it was announced it was time for him to say, 'No thank you very much'. Obviously something has happened between then and now and it's very unfortunate for Pakistan cricket,'' he added.

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