Shahid Afridi's dream of leading the Pakistan team came true as the glitzy all-rounder was today appointed skipper for the Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka in next month.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today ready an announcement to this effect but there was no mention whether Afridi would continue at the rudder of the country's T20 team.
"The chairman of the board, Ejaz Butt, has selected Afridi to lead Pakistan for the international against Sri Lanka," a spokesman for the PCB said. "A decision on future Twenty20 matches would be taken later on."
Afridi's slot came as Younis Khan stepped down after leading Pakistan to the Twenty20 World Cup glory in England last month. Younis Khan made it clear that he considered himself too old for the T20 format of the game and would not take back his decision.
Afridi, who connected the touring squad for the ODI series and the T20 tie last week, had earlier made it clear that it was his lifetime ambition to lead Pakistan in at least one international match.
The five-match ODI series is starting in Dambulla tomorrow, while Pakistan will play the only T20 match on 12th August in Colombo.
Afridi has captained his city, local and departmental teams in domestic cricket with mixed success.
"The decision reflects that the board and selectors are concerned about future of regular vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq in the Pakistan team particularly for limited-over cricket," one source said.
He has played in 23 Twenty20 internationals, scoring 371 runs at an average of 19.52, as well as claiming 33 dismissals at an extraordinary average of 15.57.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today ready an announcement to this effect but there was no mention whether Afridi would continue at the rudder of the country's T20 team.
"The chairman of the board, Ejaz Butt, has selected Afridi to lead Pakistan for the international against Sri Lanka," a spokesman for the PCB said. "A decision on future Twenty20 matches would be taken later on."
Afridi's slot came as Younis Khan stepped down after leading Pakistan to the Twenty20 World Cup glory in England last month. Younis Khan made it clear that he considered himself too old for the T20 format of the game and would not take back his decision.
Afridi, who connected the touring squad for the ODI series and the T20 tie last week, had earlier made it clear that it was his lifetime ambition to lead Pakistan in at least one international match.
The five-match ODI series is starting in Dambulla tomorrow, while Pakistan will play the only T20 match on 12th August in Colombo.
Afridi has captained his city, local and departmental teams in domestic cricket with mixed success.
"The decision reflects that the board and selectors are concerned about future of regular vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq in the Pakistan team particularly for limited-over cricket," one source said.
He has played in 23 Twenty20 internationals, scoring 371 runs at an average of 19.52, as well as claiming 33 dismissals at an extraordinary average of 15.57.
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