By Omar Khalid
Karachi, Jun 4 (IANS): Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik managed to come back for this month's Asia Cup Thursday after assuring current skipper Shahid Afridi that he would completely transform himself into a 'team man' and will always give his best for the team.
Afridi told 'The News' Friday that he believes that the former captain has learnt his lessons after getting slapped by a one-year ban and is now ready to play the role of a senior for the sake of Pakistan cricket.
He rejected reports that Malik was picked for the Asia Cup because of pressure from various influential quarters.
"I don't take any pressure from anyone. Shoaib Malik is a talented cricketer and there is no doubt about it. The team needs him. But I've told him clearly that 'I'm supporting you and I need your support for the sake of the team'," said Afridi.
"Malik has assured me of his complete support. He was serious about making a successful international return and wants to help me in my efforts to put the team back on track."
Malik was banned by the PCB for one year in March after he was found guilty of indiscipline during the disastrous tour of Australia where Pakistan lost all their matches. He was also accused of hatching conspiracies against former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.
However, a one-man appeal tribunal lifted the ban which allowed national selectors to pick him for the Asia Cup to be played in the central Sri Lankan city of Dambulla from June 15-24. It is believed that Afridi was against the idea of Malik returning for the Asia Cup but the skipper said that he has no personal grudge against any one.
"I have no personal grudges against anybody including Malik. The thing is that I just want players who can contribute towards the team cause. I want to raise our performance graph and that can only happen through a team effort."
Afridi, 30, rejected the impression that ageing fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was selected in the Sri Lanka-bound team even after failing a fitness test.
"Who said he (Akhtar) failed the fitness test? We have received reports from experts that he is fully fit after which we have decided to recall him," said Afridi.
Afridi said that Akhtar can add firepower to Pakistan's bowling arsenal.
"It's true that Shoaib has been out of action for some time but I'm sure that he still has a lot of cricket left in him. We can field him in our big matches which means he will get enough time to recover and maintain his form and fitness. I'm happy that he is back."
Afridi played down the selectors' decision to drop young allrounder Fawad Alam, who is thought to be one of the captain's favourites.
"Fawad Alam will come back. We have a lot of cricket after the Asia Cup. He just needs to prove himself which I'm sure he would do because he is a good cricketer," he said.
Afridi said the team will work hard during a brief preparatory camp that will begin in Lahore from Saturday).
"We don't have many days to get ready for the Asia Cup which means that a lot of hard work will be needed from the boys over the next week or so," he said.