Shoaib Malik named Pakistan captain

KARACHI: Shoaib Malik was on Thursday appointed the captain of the Pakistan cricket team with an underfire cricket establishment hoping that the young all-rounder will be able to turnaround the fortunes of the side following the World Cup fiasco.

The 25-year-old Malik was formally named as the successor to Inzamam-ul Haq at a press conference in Lahore, pipping senior pro Mohammad Yousuf to do the job after first choice Younis Khan refused to take up the challenge for personal reasons.

PCB Chairman Naseem Ashraf said Malik would be the captain till the end of the year in both Tests and one-day international cricket.

"At the end of the year we will review his performance and decide for the future. But we have picked Malik with an eye on the future," he told reporters.

"He is a unanimous choice. He is the best man to lead the team," said Ashraf, who was flanked by Malik himself.

Malik has played 137 one-day internationals and 18 Tests and has been one of the most improving players of the country in recent years. He has earned the tag of being a useful utility player in both modes of the sport.

Ashraf said he was confident that all the players including the seniors would support Malik.

"These are difficult times for Pakistan cricket particularly after the World Cup. But we have to keep the future in mind and hopefully have a good team on its feet when the Champions Trophy is held in Pakistan in 2008," he said.