Emirates 24|7 readers pick Afridi over Misbah as Pakistan's ODI cricket World Cup captain

Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been preferred over Misbah ul Haq to lead Pakistan at next year's 50-over cricket World Cup.

Over 50 per cent of those who responded to a poll conducted by Emirates 24|7 voted in favour of Afridi initially.

It dropped to 48 per cent at the close of polling after Afridi himself issued a statement through the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that Misbah is the "best choice" as captain.

Misbah polled the second highest of 21 per cent followed by Mohammad Hafeez (16 per cent) and Umar Akmal (five per cent).

Ten per cent of the readers felt none of the above players should be the captain of Pakistan in next year's cricket showpiece to be held in Australia and New Zealand beginning February 19.

Readers were asked 'Who do you think should be Pakistan's ODI cricket captain for the 2015 World Cup?' after Afridi was handed the captaincy for the third and final one-dayer against Australia in Abu Dhabi on Sunday October 12.

Regular skipper Misbah opted to sit on the bench being disheartened by his loss of batting form.

However, Pakistan's stand-in captain, couldn't prevent Australia from winning by one run and sweeping the series 3-0.

Afridi threw his hat in the ring at the post-match conference when asked whether he would like to continue the one-day captaincy until the World Cup.

"I think whoever is captain - Misbah or me - we should know about it. If I am to captain in the World Cup then I should know about it," said Afridi.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier this year appointed Misbah one-day captain until 2015 World Cup.

"As far as the PCB is concerned, we are supporting Misbah and he is our captain till the World Cup," PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said.

Afridi was forced to do an about turn after PCB threatened disciplinary action when he issued a statement supporting Misbah.

"Let me state at the very outset, Misbah is the best choice as Pakistan captain for the ICC World Cup 2015," Afridi said.

"I have always backed him (Misbah) to the optimum whenever I have played under him, just as he had when I had the honour to captain the Pakistan team."

However, Khan said it will be up to Misbah to decide whether or not he wants to lead Pakistan in the World Cup, but that the board has already started considering other options.

He declined to say if that included Afridi, who led Pakistan to the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup.

Misbah for his part said that he will only play one-day internationals if his form returns and will not allow the team to suffer because of his poor batting, which saw him score just 82 runs in the last five one-day innings.

He will lead Pakistan in a two-match Test series against Australia in the UAE beginning with the first match in Dubai on Wednesday October 22.

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