David Houghton Leads Zimbabwe (6 Jul 1996)

6 July 1996

David Houghton leads Zimbabwe

LONDON, Friday - Worcestershire`s David Houghton reluctantly agreed on Thursday to captain Zimbabwe`s cricket team for the second time following the surprise resignation of Andy Flower.

Houghton said he would lead the side`s tour of Sri Lanka next month, a home series against England and a one-day competition in South Africa, before retiring from international cricket next March.

"I just wanted to play as a batsman for the rest of my career without the pressure of captaincy,`` said Houghton, who first led the side between 1985 and 1993.

"But there really is no-one else in the team who can take the job on. They are all so young. A lot of them were barely born when I made my international debut in 1978.``

"Andy (Flower) asked if I would take over for an interim period before handing in his resignation and I have agreed to doing a year.``

Houghton, who is coach at Worcestershire, averages 49 in test cricket and scored a century against New Zealand on his last appearance in January.

He missed this year`s World Cup because of a broken foot.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)