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Butt replaces Afridi as Pakistan's Test captain
Salman Butt will take over the Pakistan captaincy from Shahid Afridi for next week's second and final Test against Australia at Headingley.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: July 18, 2010 10:50 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
London:
He also confirmed Afridi, who has been struggling with a side strain, had been released from the Test squad and so would not play at Headingley, the Leeds headquarters of county side Yorkshire, 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 announced he would be retiring from Test cricket following the Australia finale 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 it now appears his latest farewell to the five-day format has taken place at Lord's, not Headingley.
"Salman Butt will be the captain for the next five (Test) matches, starting against Australia in Leeds," Pakistan tour manager Saeed revealed, adding wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal would step up into the role of vice-captain.
Left-handed opener Butt was Pakistan's top-scorer in both innings at Lord's with innings of 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.
"Salman is showing his maturity," Afridi explained. "He's good enough to take over this team as captain."
Salman Butt will take over the Pakistan captaincy from Shahid Afridi for next week's second and final Test against Australia at Headingley, tour manager Yawar Saeed said here on Saturday.He also confirmed Afridi, who has been struggling with a side strain, had been released from the Test squad and so would not play at Headingley, the Leeds headquarters of county side Yorkshire, 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 announced he would be retiring from Test cricket following the Australia finale 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 it now appears his latest farewell to the five-day format has taken place at Lord's, not Headingley.
"Salman Butt will be the captain for the next five (Test) matches, starting against Australia in Leeds," Pakistan tour manager Saeed revealed, adding wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal would step up into the role of vice-captain.
Left-handed opener Butt was Pakistan's top-scorer in both innings at Lord's with innings of 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.
"Salman is showing his maturity," Afridi explained. "He's good enough to take over this team as captain."
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