Misbah will captain Pakistan in World Cup, says PCB chief Najam Sethi

Karachi: Putting his weight behind Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi has said that the senior batsman will lead the national team in the 2015 World Cup even as newly-elected chief selector Moin Khan has indicated a change in captaincy.

Moin said in a press conference on Tuesday that there had been discussions within the PCB office bearers to change the captain but a final decision on the matter was yet to be taken. Moin's comments has confirmed speculations that a strong lobby in the Board wanted Shahid Afridi to replace Misbah as the captain of the ODI team before 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

But Sethi completely rubbished such theories. "There is no change in plans and like I announced earlier Misbah will remain captain for the World Cup," Sethi told reporters in Lahore. "I have made no change to my decision and Misbah will remain the captain. Appointing the captain is the sole authority of the Chairman and the national selectors job is restricted to selecting national teams," Sethi said.

The PCB chief said that in a set up everyone is entitled to have his or her views and the national selectors might also have their views on the captaincy issue but his mind was clear. Misbah, who has led the Test side since 2010 and the ODI team since 2011, has remained quiet on the issue despite discussions and speculations in the media and cricket circles.

"Obviously, he (Misbah) is not happy over this unnecessary controversy but since the Chairman has said nothing he has preferred to keep his views to himself," a source close to the Pakistan captain told PTI.

The national selectors after a lengthy meeting announced a list of 36 probables for a month-long training camp to be held in Lahore from May 6