Butt takes over from Afridi

Salman Butt impressed with the bat in the first Test and will be hoping to lead from the front at Headingley

Salman Butt will captain Pakistan for the remaining Test matches on their tour of England following Shahid Afridi’s shock decision to retire from the five-day game yesterday.

Afridi made his surprise announcement immediately after Pakistan lost the first Test of their MCC Spirit of Cricket series against Australia by 150 runs at Lord’s - his first Test as skipper.

The all-rounder originally stated his desire to play in the second Test, but a side strain has ensured he will not travel Leeds.

Following a hastily-arranged PCB meeting this morning, opening batsman Butt was named as Afridi’s replacement for the Headingley Carnegie Test as well as the forthcoming npower four-Test series against England.

“This morning we have decided that Salman Butt will captain the team from now,” a PCB spokesman said.

“He will captain the team against Australia in the next Test and he will then also lead the team against England. Kamran Akmal is the vice-captain.

“The PCB will then decide on who will captain the Test team from then on after that series.”

Afridi is expected to remain as captain of Pakistan’s one-day and Twenty20 teams.

He is set to stay in England with family over the coming days, but is expected to return back to Pakistan to assess his fitness before the Natwest Series against England, which begins on September 5.

The PCB spokesman also confirmed they would not look to replace Afridi in their 16-man Test squad.

“We will not look to call up another player to the squad,” the spokesman added.

“We are happy with the Test squad for the rest of the tour.”