Shoaib Malik is eyeing the job on a long-term basis

KARACHI: Pakistan's new captain Shoaib Malik says he will not be afraid of taking tough decisions and is eyeing the job on a long-term basis.

"Being made captain of your country's national team is a big honour and I am elated. But I know I have a tough job ahead of me and it is not going to be easy. But I am ready for the challenge," Malik said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board ignored senior players like Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi while appointing him asthe captain both for the Test and one-day squads until the end of 2007, a period during which the team will play two important test series against South Africa and India.

"Malik is our unanimous choice. He is the best man to lead the team," said PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf while announcing Malik's appointment in Lahore.

Malik's first task is a three-match one-day series against the in-form Sri Lankan side in Abu Dhabi from May 10.

"I know it is not going to be easy replacing someone of the calibre of Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain because he commanded a lot of respect in the team and was the senior most player. But it is not the first time a junior player has been named captain in Pakistan cricket," Malik said.

The 25-year old all-rounder is the 25th player to be made Pakistan captain and the fourth youngest captain in Pakistan's cricket history after Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis and Javed Burki who all led the national team before they were 25.

"The last few weeks have been very difficult for the team and we lost a good coach in Bob Woolmer," he said.

"But my job is to look ahead and not look back. We need to unite and start doing well again. We need to restore the people's confidence in the team after the World Cup disappointment."

Malik said playing against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi would be a good Test for the players so soon after the World Cup.

"Nothing succeeds like success and we need to start to concentrate on regrouping and winning again."

Malik's selection over Yousuf is a clear indication that the Board is planning ahead for the future.

"At the end of the year, we will review his performance and decide for the future. But we have picked Malik with an eye on the future," Ashraf said.

Malik came into the picture after Younis, who was deputy to Inzamam-ul-Haq since 2005, turned down the offer to lead the team few days back.

Inzamam stepped down as captain immediately after the team lost to minnows Ireland on March 17 in Kingston, Jamaica and were eliminated from the World Cup.

He also retired from one-day internationals but was available to play in Test matches. Inzamam captained the team since November, 2003.

Malik said he was confident the senior players in the team would back him and help the team stand up again.

"One bad performance does not mean our cricket is finished. We just have to put the World Cup behind us and my job would be get the players focussed again."

The young all-rounder, who is considered as the most versatile player in the side with his batting and off-spin bowling, was involved in an ugly incident two years back in the domestic Twenty20 tournament in Karachi.

Angered by what he saw as an engineered result between Lahore and Multan in a group match, Malted to deliberately losing a match to Karachi in a bid to eliminate Lahore from the tournament.

He later apologised to the board and nation for his actions and said he had acted out of anger and haste.

The Pakistan board, despite fining and banning him for his behaviour, cleared him of any match-fixing ruling saying that there was no financial incentives involved.

Malik said that one incident was a blot on his career and he still regretted his actions.

"I was not mature enough to realize the consequences of my action and acted out of haste. I regret it even today. But there was no issue of match-fixing in it."

Malik, who also met with the board Chairman before he was named captain, said he would be looking to the senior players for guidance and would try to introduce a culture where every player contributed to the team.

"We have been a very united outfit in the last few years and I don't think my being made captain in the presence of senior players will spoil that arrangement."

The Pakistan captain said he would try to introduce a culture where the players raised theirg standards.

"Our fielding is weak and we need to improve upon it in order to compete consistently with the other sides."

Malik declined to speak on his engagement with an Indian girl, Ayesha, which apparently has broken off.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan board also announced that Talat Ali would be t manager for the next two years.