Sports

Salman Butt likely to be captain for England tour

Salim Khaliq May 17, 2010

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering a move to appoint Salman Butt as captain for the two Test series taking place in England against the hosts and Australia with Shahid Afridi likely to lead the Twenty20 and the One-Day International (ODI) squads.

According to sources, the team management, including coach Waqar Younis, as well as the PCB officials all seem to agree on Salman’s appointment viewing Afridi’s reluctance to return to the Test arena. Afridi has not played a Test for almost four years and while the all-rounder has not confirmed his decision to stay away from Test matches, his return looks highly unlikely.

Pakistan’s next appointment is the Asia Cup that starts from June15 in Sri Lanka followed by the tour of England where it will play two Twenty20s and two Tests against Australia as well as four Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s against the hosts. While the tour is still over a month away, the PCB is already mulling over the possible candidates for the threemonth long tour.

“Nothing has been confirmed as far as the captaincy is confirmed,” Ijaz told The Express Tribune from London where he is meeting with his English counterpart Giles Clarke. “The squads for the Asia Cup and the tour of England will be named together on May 22 or 24 as the team will depart for London directly from Sri Lanka after the Asia Cup.” The sources added that Salman, who finished as the third-highest scorer in the recently- concluded 2010 World Twenty20, has the backing of the coach as well as the senior players in the team and is on good terms with all team members.

Pakistan may head to the one-day tournament in Sri Lanka and the tour of England hampered by the absence of key players including Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik, with all three banned by the PCB. Younus and Malik have filed appealed against their bans, the hearing dates have set as May 22 and 29 respectively. As a result, Malik, if successful, may be able to make his international comeback while Younus may have to wait until the Test series in England.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 18th, 2010.

COMMENTS (42)

Rizwan | 13 years ago | Reply In current pakistan squad there is no one who deserve the cap of test match captaincy. In this situation it is better to make Afridi as a captain in all the cricket formats. Even Afridi doesn't deserve this .. par kia kar sktay hain :s

Rizwan | 13 years ago | Reply I am not sure he will succeed as a captain or not. He is not a match winner

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Qamar Zamir | 13 years ago | Reply Although Salman Butt played really well in the T20 WC, I highly doubt he will be able to handle the huge responsibility of the captaincy and that too in the tougher and longer format of the game. The burden itself might result in his downfall. Although I agree with many of the people saying that it is early days in Butt's career, I also feel that he has been a part of the Pakistan team for a while now and I still don't see any captaincy make-up in him. It may sound harsh but it is true and his captaincy tactics may go down the same route as that of Mohammad Yousuf. The Pakistan team are really struggling at this moment, as from the currently available squad I feel none is a captaincy prospect. Afridi unfortunately maybe aggressive in his style but his thinking span is only limited to a short period and not over a 5 day match. Afridi however should forget his idea of retiring from test cricket, as the team needs quality allrounders such as Razzaq and Afridi in the line-up. The PCB should also consider bringing back Younis and Yousuf, as without them they will not survive in the test arena because their experience and quality is irreplaceable. Let's see what happens next, hoping for the best for Pakistan cricket.

Hasan Iqbal | 13 years ago | Reply I think Salman Butt is not good for captain. First he should prove batting performance and than think about it. Misbah is a right choice to be a captain for Test. Shahid Afridi is ok captain in one days and T20 cricket format. Salman's choice is too early. Please don't do this, this is a another hit in Pakistan cricket. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD PAKISTAN PAINDABAD

Moiz AHmed | 13 years ago | Reply I feel that even though all Younis, Yusuf and Shoaib(s) are great players but now they have had their chance. The young side we saw capable of beating SA and giving the Kangaroos a tough time should be given full backing and confidence while who has, for whatever reason, been left behind should not be made a part of the team anymore. try looking for better and better and we will agian be the best. Cant rely on old and tired legs to represent Pakistan. If there inclusion was so good then we would not have done bad in their best days. Afridi should be provided with ample opportunity in the One day and 20twenty formats while Salman seems to be the only choice to be close to being able to lead. So be it! Train them, teach them, work on them. They still have years ahead of them.

Nouman Altaf malik | 13 years ago | Reply wao its very good idea but if he will win the tour of england. because we want good captain.and i want to say please give a chance to abdul razzaq.o.k and best of luck and my prayers with you

Badar and Saad (BS) | 13 years ago | Reply An unwise decision. Salman Butt is not a team player and he just plays for himself. His captaincy will surely drown the Pakistani cricket team which is already sinking. So better mull over this and make Shahid Afridi the captain of our team provided that he doesn't chunks at the ball again.

imran ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply PCB should lift ban over shoaib malik and made him test captain rather salman buuutt he has't had that confidence of captainship even he has no place in the team at some cases. PCB changing captains like sheep and goats what the hell PCB doing.

Rafiq Ahmad | 13 years ago | Reply Salmam Butt is a good choice, He is the only one in the team who could speak english.

Yasser | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Express Tribune, Please quote me the article or press release of PCB where they are saying Salman Butt is a candidate for captaincy? Although it should not happened to literate countries but this kind of act by media has created so many rifts among players. Kind Regards

Kanwar Nabeel | 13 years ago | Reply younus khan is best captain....but so called gr8 players like mohammad yousuf made players to take oath against him on quran so that he can be captain.....thats wht he was give as a prize after winning the world cup.....salman khan is not mature enough to be captain....if he can bat well that would be enough from him....afridi has the qualities to be a aggressive captain......just give him a bit of time.....and retirements.....we all know abt them in pakistan cricket.....they r announced to be taken back :D

PERVAIZ | 13 years ago | Reply YOUNUS YOUNUS AND YOUNUS

PERVAIZ | 13 years ago | Reply YOUNUS YOUNUS AND YPUNUS

Shahzad Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Sole solution to mentioned problem is Mr. Younus Khan, an honest & dedicated leader.

shahid baloch | 13 years ago | Reply Salman butt got the experience of captaincy but that was of U-17 & U-19. There is a lot of difference between under age team and your national team. Secondly the politics of our national team may also ruin as career with humiliation like some other seniors… We can pray that Butt’s end is not like some other brilliant players whom doesn’t got success & respect as a Captain. Wishing a great Luck as Pakistan Capt.

shahid baloch | 13 years ago | Reply ***in my point of view 1st of all afridi is good for 3 catagaries test,one day,and t20.if afridi dont play test matches then sulman but is good captaning for future becouse he is a goog batsman and as well as educated person.he should satisfy to commintator and pakistan audiance***

Pakistani Aaloo | 13 years ago | Reply People who say that Kamran Akmal can make a good captain should be shot.

HASSAN SALMAN GUGA | 13 years ago | Reply salman butt own position is in doubt he is still making his mark in international cricket in and out ... technique wise he is as usual saseptible to offcstump line.... afridi should b the first choice... persuade him to comback into test areana

faraz | 13 years ago | Reply Salman Butt seems to be a good Captain- but he only seems to play for himself and not for the country. When is at the Wicket, you can not expect anything radical from the lad, except that he will slowly and graudually play for his Fifty, no matter what is expected for him in a situation (we have the pak vs newzealand match in the T20 worldcup as an example) It would be wise to name him Vice Captain and train/groom him, till the world cup in 2011.

saleem | 13 years ago | Reply kamran akmal is also become good captain but butt will be better choice

Zab786 | 13 years ago | Reply I don't think so Salman Butt is wrong choice for captaincy but i think Afridi is better choice if he declare that he is ready to lead the team in all format of cricket,why not this may happen?, you can see Smith(south africa) is captain of all formats many others are same why it cant be here in Pakistan?.So i must say to PCB that think again wisely about Afridi he is the better choice otherwise Butt is also a good but not mature like Afridi is.

Sardar Muhammad Fahad Khan | 13 years ago | Reply If PCB make Salman Butt Captain it would be the bigest mistake people ever seen in the history of Pakistan Cricket. It would ruined and destroy Pakistan Cricket Team. Shahid Afridi should play Test matches for the sake of Pakistan Cricket Team. Shahid Afridi is the best option for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan Cricket Team and PCB should give chance to him in all 3 formats of Cricket.

Qman | 13 years ago | Reply Oh please, look at Afridi how he was running around during T20 like (highlighted) headless chicken. Butt will face the same fate. Well may be he wont waste too much time in Salon getting his highlights, or in his case may be low lights, done. The best thing PCB can do is to make Butt vice captain and groom him for the role after may be world cup. But whatever and whoever they look at Yonis Khan is the only option pakistan has and he is got to come back. Englis summer is going to be a completely different ball game. It is lot more formal and as a captain you have to fight more PR battles off the ground then on ground. And despite the fact that Yonis has 'Radio' face and eeringly similar smile to make Kim Kardashian uneasy but still please please undo the wrong, make Yonis the captain again and give him gurantee to be captain till after the world cup even better, give him an AK47 with an authority to shoot on site any dissenting player. While you are at it there is no harm in considering Shoaib Akther for these series to give him one last chance to redeem himself before he goes behind the smoke screen of some NATURAL stuff. I will gurantee we will have much better result then the whitewash awaiting our poor, in words of Inti, retarted Pak team.

Azeem | 13 years ago | Reply im sure afridi would change his mind if the test captaincy was on offer.

qasim | 13 years ago | Reply Out of all the players we shortlisted SALMAN BUTT to be the Captain. The lad does not even know how to win matches and we want him to take command of 11 players for a unified cause. What is PCB smoking these days?

TL | 13 years ago | Reply Its not about who deserves or who doesnt. It's who is the most capable out of the whole current team. Salman Butt is the answer.

Tariq Ashraf | 13 years ago | Reply I think Ijaz Butt should call Muhammad Yousuf in the squad because he is a good player and he is one best and genuine players in the world ...

Aurang Zeb | 13 years ago | Reply Instead of Salman Butt, Abdul Razzag could be the better choice. Butt may be the vice captain. But we must also get rid of Old man Misbah, who is a complete failure. Kamran Akmal is also not the one to be trusted, even his brother doesnot have a good repute. Both brothers have fake injuries. Get rid of ejaz butt pls.

Jawed Iqbal | 13 years ago | Reply Here we go again...the punjabi mafia in pcb is at work again. With ijaz butt as the dictator, is this really a surprise. Salman may be a good batsman...but he's no leader. What a MESS!

farhan malik | 13 years ago | Reply i think it will be a good move

Ovais Tariq | 13 years ago | Reply This is a real unwise decision, Butt's performance in test and one-dayers have not been of that much quality for him to become the captain. In recent past we had seen him being dropped out of the side and now PCB is talking about making him captain. This really shows the state of affairs in PCB. When will they stop doing trial-and-error experiments.

Baber | 13 years ago | Reply its a fairly good move. and i agree with qasim to install a captain for a longer period. but the first and foremost thing to do is remove Ijaz Butt and appoint a new Chairman who is capable to run the PCB affairs.

Saad Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply It is going to be a very wise decision as he has all the talent and a very cool head on his shoulders. I am quite confident that he will be the right choice and has all the potential to become a captain that we all are looking for a decade now.

Muhammad Niaz | 13 years ago | Reply Salman butt got the experience of captaincy but that was of U-17 & U-19. There is a lot of difference between under age team and your national team. Secondly the politics of our national team may also ruin as career with humiliation like some other seniors... We can pray that Butt's end is not like some other brilliant players whom doesn't got success & respect as a Captain. Wishing a great Luck as Pakistan Capt.

tahir | 13 years ago | Reply good move by pcb; salman butt is a young and educated player

Bilal | 13 years ago | Reply Mr. Kanwar Nabeel, the article clearly says Afridi is reluctant to play tests, then what options does PCB have left? It has to be either Salman Butt or Kamran Akmal, and since Salman's charge sheet has been pretty clean, he should be preferred.

AZMAT KHAN | 13 years ago | Reply BUTT IS A COMPETENT AND DEPENDABLE OPENER.BUT HE WILL NOT PROVE TO BE A GOOD CAPTAIN.A CAPTAIN HAS TO SUSTAIN A LOT OF PRESSURE. FOR THE TIME BEING AFRIDI IS THE BEST CAPTAIN FOR ALL TYPES OF CRICKET. ALSO RAZZAQ DESERVES TO BE APPOINTED VICE CAPTAIN.EVERY DAY EXPERIMENTATION WILL NOT PROVE BENEFICIAL.DHONI AND RICKY PONTING HAVE BEEN CAPTAINS FOR A ALONG TIME.

Irfaan | 13 years ago | Reply very funny

rameez | 13 years ago | Reply Good move He is a good & young player, can serve for a long period. I think he should b made the captain of all three versions

Kanwar Nabeel | 13 years ago | Reply Not a good decision , this will create more groups in team , i think PCB should stop this musical chair game now and name one captain till 2011 world cup , i think Afridi should be given responsibilities of all three versions.

Qasim Javed | 13 years ago | Reply A wise decision. Butt has the potential to lead the side in test matches, and if PCB is looking to appoint a captain for a longer period of time similar to Australia and England, it should go for Butt. He still has a long way to go in his career, and his recent performance in the World T20 speaks volumes of his abilities of being a team player.

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