Contrary to reports that opener Salman Butt is set for captaincy for the Asia Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to retain all-rounder Shahid Afridi as skipper for the four-nation tournament in Sri Lanka.
Sources told IANS on Friday that Afridi is all set to lead Pakistan in the Asia Cup to be played in Dambulla June 15-25. He has been summoned to Lahore May 25 for a meeting with national selectors, team management and PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. Pakistan is likely to decide its combination for the Asia Cup at the meeting.
Meanwhile, speaking on the Asia Cup, Afridi was confident that Pakistan can win the crown.
"We have a very good one-day team which is why I’m sure Pakistan will go into the tournament as a title contender,” he said. “But it would be great if the team goes to Sri Lanka with this (match-fixing) issue resolved so that everybody can focus on playing cricket.”
It was reported that the PCB was considering making 25-year-old Butt as the new Pakistan captain. However, it has been learnt that the board will take a final decision on it after the Asia Cup just weeks before Pakistan’s marathon tour of England that begins early July.
{{/usCountry}}It was reported that the PCB was considering making 25-year-old Butt as the new Pakistan captain. However, it has been learnt that the board will take a final decision on it after the Asia Cup just weeks before Pakistan’s marathon tour of England that begins early July.
{{/usCountry}}Pakistan is to play two Twenty20 Internationals and two Tests against Australia in England in July followed by a full series against hosts England that will include four Tests, five One-day Internationals and a couple of Twenty20 games.