Pakistan captain for ICC World Cup to be named on February 4: Butt

Pakistan's captain for next month's ICC Cricket World Cup in the sub-continent would be named on February 4, a day before the final match of their ongoing one-day series in New Zealand, Pakistan Cricket Board President Ijaz Butt said. Talking to Pakistani media Monday in Napier, Butt, however, refused to say which among all-rounder Shahid Afridi and Test captain Misbahul-Haq would be given reins of the team for the mega-event starting February 19.
"We will announce the captain on February 4 that is decided now," he added. Butt said that India were willing to play a short series against Pakistan in England sometime this year. "We have made good progress in talks with Indian board to resume bilateral cricket ties and they have indicated they are willing to resume ties," he added. But PCB chief made it clear that any final decision on resumption of bilateral cricket ties with India would rest completely with decisions taken at the government level.