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.
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.
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.
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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.
"Salman is showing his maturity," batsman Afridi explained. "He's good enough to take over this team as captain."
Butt is now in line to become Pakistan's seventh Test captain in just three years but Saeed stressed: "It's not a crisis situation.
"The captain (Afridi) announcing his retirement midway through a series may be a shock to others but I appreciate Shahid Afridi's decision which is based on truth.
"A lot of people would have carried on for financial gain but he does not have the temperament for Test cricket and this was a good call for the team."
Experienced batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan, both former captains, were omitted from the current Test squad after they were each reprimanded following Pakistan's 3-0 series loss in Australia earlier this year.
Saeed said the issue of whether to recall Yousuf and Younus had been discussed at a meeting Friday involving himself, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt, team coach Waqar Younis and Butt.
He added neither Yousuf nor Younus would be recalled at Headingley but held out the possibility they could feature during the four Tests against England. "The issue of Yousuf and Younus was discussed but the matter was deferred."
Meanwhile Saeed pleaded with Pakistan fans to be patient with Butt, who has never captained Pakistan before, and his fledgling team.
"The situation could have gone haywire but we have taken the best possible decision," the veteran official added.
"An England tour is not easy and with an inexperienced side it will be very tough for Salman Butt to lead.
"But my plea to Pakistan fans is to give Salman Butt and this young team time to settle. The team has talent but will take time to settle."
Afridi holed out fourth ball at Lord's on Friday when slogging at part-time spinner Marcus North.
"A captain should be an example for the youngsters, for the team, but I didn't show any example so I'm not capable to play Test cricket," Afridi said.
"If I play (Test) cricket like this it's better to leave."
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