Shahid Afridi has been appointed the captain of the Pakistan side to play in the ICC World T20 in West Indies later next month. Earlier, the selectors had, in an almost unprecedented move, announced the 15-member side for the tournament, but not announced the captain due to the issues with the player bans and penalties.

Afridi was the Pakistan captain for this T20 format of the game after Younis Khan had announced his retirement from the game, but after his involvement in the ball-tampering incident in Australia, there were question-marks over his appointment. In his place, and in the absence of Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf, there were various names thrown about in the hat, like Misbah-ul-Haq, and even the younger guys like Salman Butt and Mohammad Hafeez in the running.

However, the PCB chief seems to have forgiven the all-rounder and the Pakistanis will now began the preparation for the defence of the title that they had won in the previous edition of the tournament in full earnest.

PCB had earlier banned Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan, Shoaib Malik and Naved-ul-Hasan Rana, and penalised the Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, apart from Afridi for their misdemeanours.

Australia is the favourite to win their first ever ICC World T20 this year, with Boylesports offering 4/1 for their win. The Aussies have been in cracking form ever since they lost the Ashes last year and will look to make the most in this format that they have not shown much inclination towards, so far. South Africa (9/2 at Sky Bet) and 2007 winners India (19/4 at Bwin) go in at the number two and three positions respectively, but given their record in this recent times in this format, it is difficult to put them as favourites. In fact, Sri Lanka (6/1 at Ladbrokes) and Pakistan (8/1 at Blue Square) will have a better chance of going all way one feels.