Shahid Afridi's dream of leading the Pakistan team came true as the flamboyant all-rounder was on Wednesday appointed captain for the one-off Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka next month.

Pakistan Cricket Board today made an announcement to this effect but there was no mention whether Afridi would continue at the helm of the country's T20 team.

Afridi's appointment came as Younis Khan stepped down after leading Pakistan to the Twenty20 World Cup glory in England last month.

Younis made it clear that he considered himself too old for the shortest format of the game and would not take back his decision.

Afridi, who joined the touring squad for the ODI series and the T20 tie last week, had earlier made it clear that it was his lifelong ambition to lead Pakistan in atleast one international match.

The five-match ODI series is starting in Dambulla tomorrow, while Pakistan will play the only T20 match on August 12 in Colombo.

The all-rounder has captained his city, provincial and departmental teams in domestic cricket with mixed success.

"The decision reflects that the board and selectors are concerned about future of regular vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq in the Pakistan team particularly for limited-over cricket," one source said.