Just over a year after being sacked as Pakistan captain, allrounder Shoaib Malik has been asked to lead the national team again in its one off Twenty20 International against Australia in Melbourne Feb 5.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Monday that Malik will be Pakistan’s captain for the match after Pakistan{gt}s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi was banned for two T20 matches for ball-tampering.
“Shoaib Malik has been appointed captain for the Twenty-20 against Australia in the absence of Shahid Afridi,” said a brief statement issued by the PCB.
Afridi was caught by television cameras chewing the ball during Pakistan’s fifth and final One-day International against Australia at the WACA on Sunday night.
The 29-year-old allrounder had led Pakistan in the shortest form of the game since Younis Khan retired from T20 after guiding Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title in England last June.
His unavailability meant that Pakistan had no option but to revert to Malik, who was axed as captain after Pakistan’s crushing defeat in the one-day series against Sri Lanka at home last January.
