Pakistan name Hafeez T20 skipper

KARACHI, (Reuters) – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Mohammad Hafeez new captain of the national Twenty20 team, but retained Misbah-ul-Haq as skipper for tests and one-day internationals.

Mohammad Hafeez

“The appointments are for the coming tour to Sri Lanka,” PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf told a news conference yesterday.

Pakistan tours Sri Lanka from May 29 to play three tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 matches.

Misbah, who turns 38 this month, was also dropped from the T20 squad announced for the tour, signaling an end to his career in that format.

The selectors announcing revamped seperate test, ODI and T20 squads for the Sri Lanka tour. Chief selector, Iqbal Qasim said that after holding discussions with coach Dav Whatmore the idea was to have separate teams for all three formats which had necessitated the changes in the T20 captaincy and side.

“We are now looking ahead to the future and specialised players since we also have the T20 World Cup lined up this year that is why we have decided to blood new players.”