PCB reposes faith on Malik

Dec 15:  Shoaib Malik will continue to be the skipper of Pakistan team till December 2008 as Pakistan Cricket Board stuck by its prior decision

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reposed its faith in Shoaib Malik by retaining him as the Pakistan captain till December 2008 despite the ODI and Test series defeat against India, PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said it on Thursday.

Skipper Malik's captaincy and his own form have come under the scanner after Pakistan's one-day and Test series defeats at home to South Africa and later from the hands of India.

A number of former players, including Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, have raised the question mark on Malik’s understanding of leading the side as Test captain when he has yet to establish himself fully as a Test batsman.

"We will stick to our decision to name him as captain for the year (2008). We will give him our full backing and we feel he can mature into a good captain in time," Ashraf told reporters.

According to Ashraf, the Board had made Malik the captain this year keeping in mind the future of Pakistan cricket.

"He is young and he will learn from his mistakes. Overall the team's performance in India lacked focus," said Ashraf.

Malik led Pakistan in the One-day and Test series in India, which the hosts won 3-2 and 1-0 respectively. India won the first test in New Delhi by six wickets. Vice-captain Younis Khan led the Pakistan team as stand-in captain in the last two Tests after regular captain Malik ruled out due to an ankle injury.

PCB had also asked Australian coach, Geoff Lawson, to submit a detailed report on Pakistan's first test series loss in India since the 1979-80. The board has also decided to stop players from writing articles during tours, so that they can concentrate only on cricket.

Ashraf also told reporters that the participation of national players in domestic tournaments was again stressed, and three camps, for fast bowlers, wicketkeepers and openers, had also been arranged after the domestic Twenty20 tournament.

"There will be Pantangular Trophy in which the participation of all the top players of the country will be mandatory. All the national cricketers have been asked that their participation in it is compulsory," Ashraf added.