LAHORE, April 28: The newly appointed Pakistan captain, Shoaib Malik has dismissed all speculations about the seniors’ non-cooperation with him after Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar refused to make themselves available for the forthcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka next month.

"I don't think there’s much to it,” Malik told reporters after the first session of the national training camp at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday. “All seniors and juniors have extended their full cooperation to me and same is the case with Shoaib and Younis."

The camp has been set up to select the Pakistan team for the proposed three-match series in Abu Dhabi from May 9. While Younis has preferred to remain with his county Yorkshire in England, maverick pacer Shoaib Akhtar has claimed that he is not fit enough to play the series.

“The unavailability of some seniors players would give the opportunity to upcoming players to show their mettle,” observed Malik and added that win or defeat against Sri Lanka was not as vital as the resurrection of Pakistan cricket and the restoration of confidence among the players.

He expressed resolve that Pakistan will be able to raise a formidable team for the challenging home series against South Africa in Sept-Oct this year.

"Actually, I feel we still have international quality players in our ranks and a defeat in the World Cup only affected their morale which needs to be boosted," said Shoaib. "We have world class bowling attack in Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami and they all have played key roles in various victories for the country.”

He said he was expecting slow pitches in Abu Dhabi and the bowlers could play a major role in deciding the series there.

The Sialkot-born all-rounder said he had accepted captaincy as a challenge and assured that it would not have a negative effect on his batting in the coming series. "I have taken up this challenge with a positive frame of mind. As captain I have to fight from the front and I will not be defensive in my approach."

The skipper said he was expecting good support from the media and was confident about turning Pakistan into an unbeatable side very soon.

Commenting on late coach Bob Woolmer’s death, Malik said: "Bob had been supervising the camp for the last couple of years and Saturday was the first occasion in a long time when we had nets without him which made all of us very sad.”

Shoaib said the PCB had been struggling to get a new coach for the team and obviously there was some extra load on him during the training camp.

He urged that fielding was an important area where the players needed to focus hard. “Special attention would be given to improve the fielding and fitness of the players in the training camp,” he asserted

"Though the medical experts are conducting the fitness tests of players, the selectors will again test their fitness on their own. And the focus will be on fielding during the two practice matches (May 1 and 3)," he said.