Cricket latest: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 this month to play against South Africa. The spokesman of Pakistan Cricket Board, Mr. Nadeem Sarwar, confirmed the appointments.
36-year-old Misbah has been thrust into the captaincy role hours after his return to the international cricket once again, overlooking the Test veteran Younis Khan.
Pakistan cricket board, in the aftermath of Pakistan’s devastating tour to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 earlier this year, had awarded bulk bans to half dozen Pakistani players and then removed the bans of all the players at once. The life bans of former skipper Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan were also revoked. Younis Khan is still facing hurdles from the Pakistan Cricket Board despite of his ban being annulled.
Yesterday, the middle order batsman was called back to the national side of Pakistan after naming him in the 15-man squad that would fly to UAE later this month to bolster the fragile middle order. The PCB and selection committee had not named leader of the side, while announcing the squad yesterday. Today Misbah was announced as the Test captain for the tour of UAE, while Shahid Khan Afridi retained his limited-overs leadership post - regardless of punishments, bans and Test retirement in the midst of series against Australia. Misbah would take over the Test leadership role from Salman Butt who has been suspended provisionally by the International Cricket Council over the spot-fixing allegations against him during the Lord’s Test in England.
Handing Misbah the captaincy role for the Test series is a surprise, as the batsman was recalled for the ODIs and T20Is.
Taufeeq Umar, who made solitary international appearance in August 2006 against England, has also been recalled. Selectors also showed confidence in fast bowler Mohammad Sami and youngsters Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and the wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider.
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