June 23, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 07, 1428

KARACHI, June 22: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf has defended the decision to appoint Salman Butt as the national team’s vice-captain, saying the player was chosen because he was fit and could play for the country both in Tests and one-dayers.

Dr Nasim told reporters at the National Stadium on Friday that Salman could be a good vice-captain because he was young, fit and had a ‘cool head on his shoulders’.

Salman, 22, was named as Shoaib Malik’s deputy till the end of this year by the PCB last week. He replaced pacer Mohammad Asif, who was the vice-captain after the World Cup for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

Salman’s appointment raised a few eyebrows because just a few months back he was not even considered for the South Africa tour and the World Cup.

However, Dr Nasim said Salman was the best choice to be the vice-captain, saying, “Salman is young, fit and can play both Tests and one-dayers.”—Agencies