Salman Butt named Pakistan vice-captain

Pakistan opening batsman Salman Butt has been appointed the team's vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the tour of England, the PCB announced today. The appointment follows that of Shahid Afridi taking over the top job for the same tours in all three formats of the game.

"Butt has been appointed vice captain for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and for the tour of England," a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman told AFP.

Butt was tipped by the Pakistan media to be the Pakistan captain after the indefinite ban and retirement of Mohammad Yousuf, who led the team in New Zealand and Australia. However, when Afridi announced his return to Test cricket, the PCB decided to make him captain as he already had experience in captaining the Twenty20 side. Butt said it would be an honour if he was handed the captaincy, but he wasn't thinking about it and chose to focus on performing as a batsman in the upcoming tours.

Pakistan will play India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup from June 15-24 before heading to England for five Tests (three against England and two against Australia), two Twenty20s against Australia, five ODIs and a Twenty20 against England.