Pakistan to name Twenty20 captain first

Karachi:

Pakistan Cricket Board will soon appoint a captain for the Twenty20 World Cup and later on name a regular skipper, PCB chairman Ejaj Butt said.

"The captain we name in the next few days would only be for the World Cup. We will decide on a regular captain after the World Cup," Butt told the media in Islamabad.

Butt said the board was clear in its mind about the future line of action and said that the recent disciplinary action against top players was part of that plan.

He also dismissed statements by Rana Naved that the board had not clarified the charges against the players while imposing bans and fines on them.

"The letters sent to the players clearly spell out why action has been taken against them," he added.

He, however, clarified that the players not given central contracts last week could still play for Pakistan.

"Our point of view is clear -- any player who has got the central contract but is not performing will be dropped and the selectors can pick anyone from outside the pool of contracted players," he added.

Butt also spoke about the difficulties being faced by the PCB in inviting foreign teams to tour Pakistan.

"We are still trying to convince other boards to come and play in Pakistan but obviously in present circumstances it is difficult," he said.

"That is even for our home series against South Africa. We are considering having the matches in the United Arab Emirates after talks with the South Africans," he said.

He said South Africa had also offered to host the series for Pakistan.

Pakistan has already played its recent home series against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE and in New Zealand.

The PCB has announced the 15-member squad for the Twenty20 World Cup but has yet to name the captain.