Afridi replaces Misbah as Pak vice-captain for CT

Karachi:

Flamboyant allrounder Shahid Afridi was on Friday rewarded for his recent match-winning performances by being named the vice-captain of the Pakistan team for next month's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Afridi has replaced senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq as Younis Khan's deputy.

"Basically Misbah has been sent out a clear message that if he does not perform in the Champions Trophy he will be shown the door from the team," an official in the Pakistan Cricket Board said.

"In Sri Lanka when Misbah was struggling for runs, Younis had made it clear that it was difficult to drop him since he was the vice-captain and part of the tour selection committee," the official said.

He said Afridi had captained the side well in the lone Twenty20 match in Sri Lanka and this was also a reason he was appointed vice-captain for the Champions Trophy.

Afridi has already made it clear that if the board offered him captaincy on a long-term basis, he would be interested in taking up the responsibility.