Afridi named captain for England tour

All-rounder Shahid Afridi has been named as Pakistan captain for the tour to England after deciding to end a four-year absence from Test cricket.



The 30-year-old led Pakistan at the recent International Cricket Council World 20/20 and now takes the job in all three forms of the game.



After the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in June, Pakistan head to the United Kingdom to play series against Australia and England.



The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named a 35-man squad, led by Afridi, to cover all three series, although they must reduce the squad to 15 players for the Asia Cup and are likely to decide on the final tour party for England in June.



It includes former captains Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik, who have appealed against the bans handed to them by the PCB and would be able to play if the bans are overturned.



Pakistan cricket is currently under a cloud because of an inquiry into last winter\'s tour to Australia.



The investigation, being carried out by the International Cricket Council\'s anti-corruption unit, follows a series of dismal performances in Australia, where Pakistan lost every Test, one-day and 20/20 international.



Afridi was banned for two 20/20 matches for biting the ball during a match in Perth and after the tour was fined by the PCB, whose officials conducted their own inquiry into the dressing-room disharmony that dogged the team during the tour.



Pakistan have a hectic schedule in the next few months, as they face one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup before they head to England in late June.