KEY POINTS:
Shoaib Malik will retain the Pakistan captaincy until December 2008, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced.
The 25-year-old allrounder, appointed after Pakistan's poor showing at the World Cup, was granted a one-year extension.
"Malik has shown enough promise to warrant more time as captain," PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said.
"He has led the team well and all the players are comfortable with him.
"We are looking to have continuity in the captaincy as this is instrumental in the improvement of the team. Malik is young and learning and the perfect choice."
Malik, leading the team on their tour of India, has appeared in 20 tests and 147 one-day internationals for the national side. Younis Khan is the vice-captain for the Indian tour.
Ashraf said paceman Mohammad Asif might be sent to Australia for treatment on the elbow injury which forced him out of the Indian tour. The PCB are awaiting a response from an Australian expert to whom they have sent two medical reports.
Asif also missed four of the five one-day matches at home against South Africa last month.
- Reuters
