Following the team's early ouster from the World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday asked senior players to either quit of face an axe.

PCB chief Tauqir Zia told a television channel that the players were earning a bad name for the country by sticking to their places and they would not be included in the team in the future.

Captain Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar and Rashid Lahif had declined to quit. Waqar, Akram and Anwar had initially said they intended to retire.

Inzamam quit from vice-captaincy, but said he would continue to play.

Zia said a team comprising youngsters had been finalised to play in the three-nation Sharjah Cup, but declined to reveal the details.

Zia, a serving army officer, said even he intended to step down, but only after bringing the team back to its winning ways.

"Producing a new team is a big challenge before me and I enjoy challenges," he said.