PCB boss Butt ’secretly’ leaves for NZ to decide on Pak captain for World Cup

ISLAMABAD - In the backdrop of former Pakistani players slamming the Pakistan Cricket Board for its decision to withhold the captain’s name while announcing the final 15-member squad for next month’s World Cup, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt has secretly left for New Zealand to ’sort out’ the captaincy issue.

According to sources, Butt has left for Wellington, where Pakistan will play a six-match one-day series against New Zealand from January 22 to February 5.

“Ijaz [Butt] wants to sort out the captaincy issue after meeting some key players and team officials in New Zealand,” the Daily Times quoted a source, as saying.

Sources said the PCB chief had asked the board officials to keep his visit a secret, as he wanted to quietly hold a few meetings before deciding Pakistan’s captain for the ICC World Cup, beginning in the subcontinent on February 19.

“Ijaz will hold meetings with Afridi, Misbah and also with Pakistan coach Waqar Younis in Wellington before taking a decision on the captaincy issue,” the source revealed.

The decision to not name Pakistan’s captain for the World Cup while announcing the squad has fuelled speculations that Test captain Misbah remains a strong choice to lead the one-day squad as well, after his successful run as Test skipper against South Africa and New Zealand.

Afridi, who has led the Pakistan team in T20 and ODI since last year and is also captain for the forthcoming ODI series in New Zealand, has been criticised for his leading abilities, and some players and officials have also been raising questions over his ‘behaviour and attitude’. (ANI)