Afridi named Pakistan captain for T20 WC

LAHORE – All-rounder Shahid Afridi has been named Pakistan skipper for the World T20 Cup starting from April 30 in the West Indies. A Pakistan Cricket Board official made the announcement of his appointment on Tuesday.
Afridi was among seven cricketers who were reprimanded in different ways for dissent. He was fined USD 35,200 for ball-tampering during the Australian tour and was put on six months probation and was also banned for two matches by the ICC.
Afridi has been Pakistan’s captain in the T20 format since the last year, but was temporarily out of the picture after he was found guilty of ball-tampering in an ODI at Perth earlier this year.
He was banned for two T20s by the ICC and was further punished by the PCB which handed him a hefty fine. But he has widely tipped as the leading candidate over the last few days.
After Pakistan’s disastrous Australian tour, a committee banned former skippers Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan for life while Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hassan were banned for a year.
Pakistan are the defending champions in the World T20 after winning the tournament last year in England.
Chief selector Mohsin Khan two days after his appointment announced the team for the T20 World Cup on March 12 but left the appointment of captain on discretion of the PCB chairman who after 11 days has now finally announced it.
He was favourite from among four names circulating in the media and his closest contender for the jog was all-rounder Abdul Razzaq while Misbahul Haq and Salman Butt were also in line for captaincy.
Afridi vowed to carry the team to victory after the PCB announced his appointment. “I am very happy to be appointed captain and I will do my utmost to help Pakistan defend the World Twenty20 title,” he was quoted by a wire news.
Local media had reported that all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq were also in the running for the captaincy.
Afridi, player of the tournament in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007, has led Pakistan in three T20 matches, winning them all.
Pakistan won the second edition of the World Twenty20 in England last year, and are placed in Group A of the 12-team competition along with Australia and Bangladesh. They face Bangladesh in the first match on May 1 and Australia the next day. The tournament will be held from April 30-May 16 in the West Indies.

Source: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Sports/24-Mar-2010/Afridi-named-Pakistan-captain-for-T20-WC