Afridi demoted

ISLAMABAD (AP):

Shahid Afridi has been dropped as Pakistan captain and replaced by Misbah-ul-Haq for the one-day internationals against Ireland later this month.

The move comes after Afridi criticised team management on his return home from the 3-2 series win over the West Indies, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not elaborate on the reason for his demotion.

PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar told The Associated Press yesterday it is the "policy of the board to appoint a captain on a series-to-series basis".

Afridi led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the World Cup, but after returning from the West Indies he told reporters he was unhappy with interference in team affairs by unnamed members of the management.

The PCB said Afridi had violated its code of conduct and appropriate action would be taken.

Afridi became Pakistan's fourth ODI captain in less than two years after Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf when he led the team in the Asia Cup last year.

Afridi and Khan were named in the 16-member squad to play the two ODIs against Ireland on May 28 and May 30 in Belfast.