Pakistan appoint Salman Butt vice captain

Lahore:

Pakistan on Wednesday appointed opener Salman Butt as vice captain for the upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and England after he lost the Test captaincy to Shahid Afridi.

"Butt has been appointed vice captain for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and for the tour of England," a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said.

The 25-year-old will be deputy to Afridi who was last week appointed captain for the two tours.

Butt was seen as a top contender for the Test captaincy after Mohammad Yousuf was sacked following Pakistan's dismal tour of Australia in February. Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 match in Australia.

But once Afridi, who has not played a Test since 2006, made himself available for the longer version of the game Butt was pushed to the deputy's spot.

Pakistan take on hosts and defending champions Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup from June 15-24 before their tour of England.

Pakistan play two Twenty20 and two Tests against Australia before taking on England in four Tests, five one-day and two Twenty20 matches.

Butt was previously vice captain of the team led by Shoaib Malik in 2007. The left-hander has so far played 27 Tests, 76 one-day and 22 Twenty20 games for Pakistan since making his debut in 2003.