Karachi, Sept 16:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today named flamboyant allrounder Shahid Afridi as its new national Twenty20 captain until the 2016 World T20 while Misbah ul Haq was retained as the Test and ODI skipper until the 2015 50-over World Cup.
Commenting on these developments PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said the decisions were in line with his policy of taking decisions democratically.
“I consulted Cricket Committee and my Board members before announcing these decisions. I wish both Afridi and Misbah very good luck in their upcoming assignments,” PCB chief said.
The PCB has however differed announcing the squad for the coming series against Australia in the UAE.
Pakistan will start their tour against Australia next month with a T20 scheduled on 5th October 2014 at Dubai Cricket Stadium.
Afridi was tipped to be given the national T20 captaincy after Muhammad Hafeez stepped down from the job after the World T20 in Bangladesh this year where Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2007.
Sources revealed that the name of young batsman Sohaib Maqsood was also discussed, but the votes were in favour of Afridi because of his vast experience of ODI and T20 cricket and also because he has led the side before.
Afridi was removed as captain of the ODI and T20 teams in May 2011 after having a fallout with the board over disciplinary issues. (PTI)
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