Sarfaraz blames PCB boss for encouraging 'gambling' by delaying captain selection

Former fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz has blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt for encouraging 'gambling' and 'betting' by not disclosing the name of the captain for the upcoming assignments of the national team.

"I must say that Ijaz Butt has provided the gambling mafia with an ideal opportunity by keeping the captain's name a mystery.I mean now there are four candidates for captaincy and its common knowledge that huge amounts of bets are being placed on who will be the next captain of the Pakistan team," The News quoted Nawaz, as saying.

The PCB had announced a 15-man squad for the forthcoming ICC World T20 Championship in West Indies last week, but did not name the skipper for the tournament.

Butt said he is discussing issues concerning captaincy with the potential skippers, and that the captain would be named soon. However, Nawaz said the PCB chief was only encouraging betting by delaying the decision.

"I'm a 100 percent sure that the captaincy issue has become a great way for the gambling mafia to make a lot of money. There are four players in the picture and gamblers all over the world are speculating as to who will be the captain. I'm sure that Butt knows who should be our captain and should just name him. Why is he encouraging such things?" the former speedster said.

While flamboyant all rounder Shahid Afridi is believed to be leading the race for captaincy, veteran players such as all rounder Abdul Razzaq and middle-order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq are also said to be in the fray.

Insiders said opener Salman Butt is also being considered for the top job.u00a0