Pak's captaincy running commentary: Please come in, Salman Butt

Left-handed Pakistan batsman Salman Butt will take over the captaincy from Shahid Afridi for the second and final Test against Australia at Headingley starting next week

London: Left-handed Pakistan batsman Salman Butt will take over the captaincy from Shahid Afridi for the second and final Test against Australia at Headingley starting next week.

Afridi, who has been struggling with a side strain, opted himself out from Tests calling himself a misfit to the five-day game.

Pakistan tour manager Yawar Saeed said Butt, currently the vice-captain, would also lead the side in their subsequent four Test series against England, end of this month.

Salman Butt

Afridi, who remains Pakistan's one-day and T20 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 Praising his teammate Afridi said that Butt should become captain.

"Salman is showing his maturity. He's good enough to take over this team as captain," Afridi explained.
Butt is now in line to become Pakistan's seventh Test captain in just three years but Saeed stressed that it wasn't 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, " said Saeed.
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