LAHORE Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes bickering and controversies have inflicted great damage to the national team. He urged the need for fresh blood in the team. I think it is time the new players take the Pakistan cricket forward. I believe the new players are needed to make Pakistan successful again, said he. Last month, a leaked video showed players and officials accusing each other during an inquiry that resulted in seven players being banned and fined for ill discipline and poor performance on Pakistans winless tour of Australia this year. Pakistan selectors have recalled former captain Malik for the Asia Cup. They also included injury-prone fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the squad and called up three uncapped batsmen in Shazaib Hasan, Umar Amin and Asad Shafiq. The selectors did not consider Younus Khan for the Asia Cup, although his indefinite ban was lifted last week. Another former captain, Mohammad Yousuf, has retired from international cricket and he did not appeal against his indefinite ban. They are great players, Younis said. However, a Pakistan Cricket Board arbitrator then removed suspensions on Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik, revoked a fine given to Shahid Afridi, and reduced fines on Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal and Malik. Pakistan is due to leave for Sri Lanka on Saturday to compete in the four-nation Asia Cup. He said that the recent off-field controversies have inflicted damage on the team. Only recently Waqar was asked by the PCB chairman to keep away from giving statements but later PCB chairman stated that there is no controversy involved regarding the coach. However, reports stated that it was the manager of the team who feels jealous with the popularity of the coach and wants to put limits on his media interaction. He further added: We have not won nothing significant over the last two three years, but with youngsters in the side we hope to get back to winning ways. Akhtar has not played international cricket for more than a year due to several fitness problems, but got a vote of confidence from his coach. He is fit, but I know its not easy to make a comeback because I have gone through this when I used to play international cricket, Younis said. He added that Akhtar would not be rushed back and he will try to blend him slowly back into international cricket. Akhtar lingers around with bandaged calf Fresh doubts about the fitness of injury-prone fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar are being raised after he was seen practicing with bandages during the camp training at the Gaddafi Stadium. Akhtar, who missed a great part of his cricket due to injuries, lingered around in the field with bandage around his calf. He was seen with a bandage around his calf during a training camp here. Shoaib recently got a call to the Pakistan team for the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to begin from June 15. The calf bandage has once again raised suspicion on Akhtars fitness, although the team sources said that Akhtar's bandage was a precautionary measure to avoid any injury niggle. Earlier, captain Shahid Afridi rubbished reports regarding Akhtar, 34, not being fully fit. I dont know who is spreading such false rumors. There is nothing wrong with Shoaib. He is fully fit and its showing in his output during training sessions. He is going that extra mile which is a great sign for us, Afridi said. According to insiders, Akhtar is also not happy about being made to bowl extra overs in the training camp.