PCB in a huddle in quest of choosing ODI, T20 captains

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly looking forward to finalise discussions with all concerned, including national team head coach Waqar Younis, before naming the ODI and Twent20 captains on Tuesday, besides finalising the squad for the World Cup.

While PCB chairman Shahryar Khan on national T20 captaincy has kept his cards close to his chest, speculations are rife that young Pakistan batsman Sohaib Maqsood along with veteran Shahid Afridi are also in the run for the post.

Even Mohammad Hafeez, who after Pakistan's poor show in the World T20 earlier this year lost the leadership of the shortest format, may be restored to the helm, The Dawn reported.

A PCB official said that appointing national T20 captain is not an easy job for the PCB as not a single candidate holds strong enough credentials to claim the important position.

He added that while Maqsood possesses no leadership experience, Afridi in the past left the job in an unceremonious manner and moreover the explosive all-rounder wants full power as captain.

The official also said that asking Hafeez to again accept the post, which he lost just a few months ago due to the team's poor showing, does not make much sense, adding that all this makes it very tough for the PCB to take a final decision on the T20 captaincy.

But, he added that it is confirmed that no player is final for this post and there can be strong arguments and counter-arguments on the subject when PCB's cricket committee meets on Monday to finalise the name for T20 captaincy, which will be announced on Tuesday.