Butt to captain as Pakistan marks start of new era
Source: Agencies |
July 21, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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SALMAN Butt will captain Pakistan for the first time in the second test against Australia at Headingley today, marking a new era for Pakistani cricket - a mere eight days after the previous new era had apparently dawned.
A week is a long time in the highly politicized world of Pakistan cricket. On July 13, Shahid Afridi returned to the test arena for the first time in four years to captain Pakistan in its nominal home test with Australia, played at Lord's due to the security situation in Pakistan.
Yet before the game had even finished Afridi had resigned and after Pakistan's 150-run defeat he announced his retirement from test cricket with immediate effect.
Butt, previously the vice-captain, admitted that while the news was unexpected, he wasn't shocked by Afridi's decision.
"I knew nothing about it beforehand, but I have respect for his honest opinion," Butt told cricinfo.com. "Being vice-captain meant that if anything goes wrong you are the next man, so I was partially ready for something like this, but I didn't expect him to retire like this."
If retiring smacked of an overreaction, Afridi was at least partially culpable for his side's defeat. His shot selection, particularly in the second innings, was poor by his own admission.
"With my temperament I can't play test cricket," he said. "It is better if a youngster comes in my place, probably a genuine batsman or even a genuine bowler."
Yet for periods of the Lord's test Pakistan was on top, and for the second test Butt can call on arguably the most exhilarating pace bowling attack in international cricket.
Umar Gul, Mohammad Amer and Mohammad Asif swung the ball prodigiously in Australia's first innings at Lord's, to dismiss Ricky Ponting's side for 253.
The problem lies with a batting lineup short on test experience and patience - Butt was the only Pakistan batsmen to score a 50 in either innings. Having banned former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf for life after the 0-3 test series defeat in Australia in the winter, the Pakistan Cricket Board subsequently left the door open for both men to return.
Yousuf said in Karachi on Monday that he would be prepared to play under Butt, but logistical reasons make it unlikely he will be able to reach Leeds in time. Younis, playing county cricket with Surrey, is a more realistic option, but Afridi's place is likely to be taken by Shoaib Malik, while spinner Danish Kaneria could make way for Saeed Ajmal.
A week is a long time in the highly politicized world of Pakistan cricket. On July 13, Shahid Afridi returned to the test arena for the first time in four years to captain Pakistan in its nominal home test with Australia, played at Lord's due to the security situation in Pakistan.
Yet before the game had even finished Afridi had resigned and after Pakistan's 150-run defeat he announced his retirement from test cricket with immediate effect.
Butt, previously the vice-captain, admitted that while the news was unexpected, he wasn't shocked by Afridi's decision.
"I knew nothing about it beforehand, but I have respect for his honest opinion," Butt told cricinfo.com. "Being vice-captain meant that if anything goes wrong you are the next man, so I was partially ready for something like this, but I didn't expect him to retire like this."
If retiring smacked of an overreaction, Afridi was at least partially culpable for his side's defeat. His shot selection, particularly in the second innings, was poor by his own admission.
"With my temperament I can't play test cricket," he said. "It is better if a youngster comes in my place, probably a genuine batsman or even a genuine bowler."
Yet for periods of the Lord's test Pakistan was on top, and for the second test Butt can call on arguably the most exhilarating pace bowling attack in international cricket.
Umar Gul, Mohammad Amer and Mohammad Asif swung the ball prodigiously in Australia's first innings at Lord's, to dismiss Ricky Ponting's side for 253.
The problem lies with a batting lineup short on test experience and patience - Butt was the only Pakistan batsmen to score a 50 in either innings. Having banned former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf for life after the 0-3 test series defeat in Australia in the winter, the Pakistan Cricket Board subsequently left the door open for both men to return.
Yousuf said in Karachi on Monday that he would be prepared to play under Butt, but logistical reasons make it unlikely he will be able to reach Leeds in time. Younis, playing county cricket with Surrey, is a more realistic option, but Afridi's place is likely to be taken by Shoaib Malik, while spinner Danish Kaneria could make way for Saeed Ajmal.
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