Malik has also threatened to quit the team altogether if he was not given the promotion he "deserved" in two days time.

"I deserve to be in grade 7. Other less qualified and people with little educational qualifications have been promoted to this grade. I am a former Pakistan captain and still a senior player yet the airlines management has turned a blind eye to my request," he said.

He said he had been representing PIA for 14 years and deserved a promotion to Grade 7.

PIA, one of the star studded teams, on the domestic circuit opened its campaign on Saturday and Test batsman, Faisal Iqbal will be leading the team after Malik's refusal to accept captaincy.
The airlines have also lost the services of pace bowler Umar Gul, who has also joined the Habib Bank team for the season and will represent them in domestic cricket.