Butt replaces Afridi as Pakistan Test captain
Shahid Hashmi
Salman Butt will take over the Pakistan captaincy from Shahid Afridi
for next week’s second and final Test against Australia at Headingley,
Pakistan tour manager Yawar Saeed told AFP on Saturday.
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Salman Butt |
He revealed Afridi, who has been struggling with a side strain, had
been released from the Test squad and so would not play at Headingley,
in Leeds, northern England, where the Australia finale starts on
Wednesday.
Saeed added Butt, currently the vice-captain, would also lead
Pakistan in their subsequent four Test series against England, starting
at Trent Bridge on July 29.
Afridi, who remains Pakistan’s one-day and Twenty20 skipper,
announced the Headingley fixture would be his last Test after leading
Pakistan to a 150-run defeat by Australia in the series opener at Lord’s
here on Friday.
That was Afridi’s first Test in four years and so the 30-year-old’s
latest farewell to the five-day format has taken place after just one
match back.
“Salman Butt will be the captain for the next five (Test) matches,
starting against Australia in Leeds,” Saeed confirmed, adding
wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal would be the vice-captain.
Left-handed opener Butt was Pakistan’s top-scorer in both innings at
Lord’s with 63 and 92
After the match, which Pakistan lost with more than a day to spare,
Afridi said the 25-year-old Butt, who has now played 28 Tests, should
become captain.
LONDON, Sunday AFP |
