Afridi may become Pakistan's next T20 skipper

Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who after guiding Pakistan to the Twenty20 World Cup title in Sunday's final expressed willingness to lead the national team atleast once before calling it quit, may soon get the opportunity.

Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who after guiding Pakistan to the Twenty20 World Cup title in Sunday's final expressed willingness to lead the national team atleast once before calling it quit, may soon get the opportunity.

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The dream of Afridi, who cracked an unbeaten 40-ball 54 to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets at the Lord's, may come true after Younis Khan stepped down as the T20 skipper.

Having regained his sublime touch with the bat and his bowling already being a potent weapon, Afridi is now most likely to succeed Younis as the T20 skipper.

"For the time being Shoaib Malik is ruled out of contention for captaincy at any level and the way Afridi has performed and handled new found responsibilities as a senior player, he is certain to become the Pakistan captain for T20 cricket," one Pakistan Cricket Board official told PTI.

If Afridi comes at the helm of country's T20 squad, his first assignment will be the one-off match against Sri Lanka on August 12 during their tour to the island nation.