The Pakistan Cricket Board will announce the team captain for the forthcoming World Cup on February 4, a day before the final match of their ongoing one-day series against New Zealand. "We will announce the captain on February 4, that is decided now," the Daily Times quoted PCB chief Ijaz Butt, as telling Pakistani media persons in Napier.

Some former cricket greats are backing Pakistan's Test captain Misbahul Haq to replace incumbent limited-overs skipper Shahid Afridi as Pakistan's captain for the World Cup, which begins on February 19 and is to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Butt also disclosed 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 said.

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

"Hopefully, decisions would be made at the government level on the series but the Indian board has shown its willingness to play, which is good news for us," he added.

Butt also admitted that it was important for Pakistan to have bilateral ties with India. "The financial aspect of playing India regularly in bilateral series is very important for us," he explained.

India has not played Pakistan in a bilateral series since late 2007. It had cancelled its Pakistan tour in early 2009 in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.