‘Do we prioritize Test cricket? ‘ – Salman Butt lashes out at PCB, players for indifference towards red-ball cricket

Salman Butt. (Source – Twitter/X)

Pakistan are set to host Bangladesh for two Tests and subsequently welcome England for a three-match Test series. The team has been subjected to criticism from every corner due to a lack of quality spinning options other than Abrar Ahmed. Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt, who was addressing the issue, opined that the players have shown disinterest in red-ball cricket prioritizing T20Is.

Pakistan were among the best Test-playing nations in the early 2000s and they dominated the decade before the spot-fixing scandal was busted. They seemed to have lost the plot and their recent tour to Australia for the Test series became a testament to their underwhelming performance. Butt argued that it is players who have lost the enthusiasm to do well in red-ball cricket.

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“Do we prioritize Test cricket? Why are we suddenly so worried about our combination? We just don’t want to play the format. Our boys don’t play first-class cricket regularly. We are the only cricket board in the world that says, ‘Instead of one of the Test matches, let’s have two T20Is,” said Butt as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

You are creating corners within the team yourself: Butt

PCB has been the most volatile board in the cricket world as it has seen more than three changes in its chief within four years. Moreover, Shaheen Afridi was named as the white-ball captain but was dethroned after captaining the team in just one series. Butt argued that Babar is not a born leader, shedding light on dismal performance in ICC events, and accused management of creating corners within the team.

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“He (Babar) is not a born leader. But the issue is, what have you contributed to make it easier for him? You brought in two guys who humiliated him on TV. Then you changed the captain and brought him back after two series. You are creating corners within the team yourself,” he added.