“We will announce the captain on February 4, that is decided now,” Ijaz Butt told reporters.

Pakistan's captain for ICC Cricket World Cup would be named on February 4, a day before the final match of the team's ongoing ODI series in New Zealand, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman (PCB) Ijaz Butt said on Monday.

Talking to Pakistani media in Napier on the eve of the fourth ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand, Butt refused to divulge any names, adding to the sense of uncertainty that has hovered over the Pakistan dressing room during their tour.

Former Pakistan cricketers and experts have slammed the decision to withhold the decision of naming the captain and have said that the move has created two factions in the team; one that supports Shahid Afridi and one that backs Misbah-ul-Haq.

How much of that is true is anyone’s guess but the PCB chief remains adamant that the name of the captain will be revealed on the said date.

“We will announce the captain on February 4, that is decided now,” he told PTI.

Butt also claimed that India were willing to play a short series against Pakistan in England sometime this year.

“We have made good progress in talks with the Indian board to resume bilateral cricket ties and they have indicated they are willing to resume ties,” he added.

But the PCB chief made it clear that any final decision on resumption of bilateral cricket ties with India would rest completely with decisions taken at the government level.