Malik retained as Pakistan captain until Dec 2008

[TaZ]

13:22 09Nov2007 RTRS-Cricket-Shoaib Malik retained as Pakistan captain

KARACHI, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Shoaib Malik will retain the Pakistan captaincy until December 2008, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday.
The 25-year-old all-rounder, who was appointed in April after Pakistan's poor showing at the World Cup, was granted a one-year extension by the PCB.
"Malik has shown enough promise to warrant more time as captain," PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf told reporters.
"He has led the team well and all the players are comfortable with him.
"We are looking to have continuity in the captaincy as this is instrumental in the improvement of the team. Malik is young and learning and the perfect choice," he added.
Malik, who is leading the team on its tour of India, has appeared in 20 tests and 147 one-day internationals for the national side.
Ashraf said the vice-captain would be announced on a series- to-series basis. Younis Khan is the vice-captain for the Indian tour.
Ashraf added that paceman Mohammad Asif might be sent to Australia for treatment on the elbow injury which forced him out of the Indian tour.
"We have two reports on his injury. One specialist says he requires surgery, another feels he can recover without surgery. We have sent his reports to a top specialist in Australia and we are awaiting his response," Ashraf added.
Asif also missed four of the five one-day matches at home against South Africa last month and pulled out of the Indian tour on the day the team left for New Delhi.
(Editing by Miles Evans)
((miles.evans@reuters.com; +442075427933; miles.evans.reuters.com@reuters.net. For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com))
Keywords: CRICKET PAKISTAN/MALIK

[BD-fan]

Excellent decision PCB. I see they are not all bad.

[willegg]

I wise and courageous decision by the board. They are giving him time to improve and prove himself.

Also very happy that the VC position is being decided series by series. Keeps a healthy competition between the players for a senior role within the team.

[Sultan Yusuf]

This is pretty meaningless. If he fails, he's out on his ear anyway!

[Oxy]

All this means is that he has a contract that says he is the PAkistani team captain up until Dec 2008.

What it doesnt say is that if he has a terrible run as captain (defeat after defeat etc), thet he would be sacked.

No one has a contract that prevents them from dismissal as captain.

I think this is just to get media of his and PCB's back.

[willegg]

Originally Posted by Oxy What it doesnt say is that if he has a terrible run as captain (defeat after defeat etc), thet he would be sacked.

Are you saying that's not in contract and he can do what he wants regardless of the consequences. If so, did 'nt realise contracts worked like that, if so lucky man.

[darkmoon459]

Excellent move by PCB for sticking with Malik over the captain issue ,this will give malik,coach and the team to gel together and malik to gain some much needed experience.

[muhammad saad]

Why we go from one extreme to another extreme??? First we try 20+ opening combinations in couple of years and now we are seeing extreme sticky policy??? cant we find a middle road?

[Muzy]

good on PCB for giving malik more time to improve his captaincy still think he lacks support from certain members of the team who could really push him further

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Muzy good on PCB for giving malik more time to improve his captaincy still think he lacks support from certain members of the team who could really push him further

One person who I think definately could give more input is the vice captain Younis Khan, apart from that he recieves a lot of advice from people like Misbah and Afridi.