Butt likely to lead Pak in longer format

The Pakistan Cricket Board will announce the squads for next months Asia Cup and the tour of England on May 22 and opener Salman Butt is likely to receive the Test captaincy.

Sources said that acting on the advice of former coaches Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed,the PCB has ruled out selection of banned seniors like Muhammad Yousuf,Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik from selection.

This is the suggestion that Aaqib gave to the inquiry committee of the board during the hearings in February and March and he had told them to appoint a compromise candidate for the Tests in England against Australia and England, a source said.

With Afridi still not inclined to play Tests and the selectors also not too keen to try him out,it appears Salman Butt,who has been in good form in recent matches,might get the captaincy for the Tests in England while Afridi would be retained as one-day captain for Asia Cup, the source said.

The PCB appears in no mood to forgive the three senior players who are automatic candidates for the captaincy and indications are their appeals against their bans before the appellate tribunal will not be dispensed with quickly.

It is unlikely the appeals judge will give his verdict before the Asia Cup although Younis has been insisting that he should at least be given him temporary relief and the indefinite ban imposed on him by the board be suspended, the source noted.

Sources said all indications are that the selectors would be bringing in several new faces for the tour to England where Pakistan are to play six Tests against Australia and the hosts.