Cricket

Salman Butt Defends Babar Azam Amidst Resignation and CriticismFormer Pakistan captain Salman Butt has come to the defense of Babar Azam following his resignation as the team's white-ball captain. The move came after ex-pacer Sikander Bakht criticized Azam's leadership and performance during the recent T20 World Cup.Bakht had suggested that Azam should have stepped down immediately after Pakistan's group stage exit, saying, "You finally felt ashamed!" However, Butt believes that such criticism is unwarranted."Respect is given to those who have earned it," Butt said on a TV show. "It's unfortunate to criticize a player who has been Pakistan's best for the past five years."Butt highlighted Azam's consistent contributions to Pakistan cricket, including his impressive batting record and leadership qualities. He emphasized the need to recognize Azam's accomplishments, regardless of personal opinions."You can like or dislike any person, but you should consider the player's stature while criticizing," Butt concluded.Azam's resignation has sparked mixed reactions within the cricket community. Some have questioned his decision, while others have expressed support for his leadership. Butt's defense underscores the importance of acknowledging Azam's significant contributions to Pakistan cricket amidst leadership changes.

Pakistan's Test cricket woes reached a new low on Tuesday as they suffered a humiliating 2-0 series defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. It was the first time the Tigers had ever triumphed in a Test series against Pakistan, marking a historic low for the once-formidable side.The series loss has sparked widespread criticism, with former batter Salman Butt emerging as a vocal critic. However, Butt has taken aim at those who have called for Pakistan's batters to increase their strike rate in Test cricket."The strike rate mafia and intent mafia are basically illiterates of cricket," Butt said in a video on his YouTube channel. "They have no idea about the format they are talking about."Butt argued that Test cricket is about patience and building partnerships, not about scoring runs quickly. "You lose within four days and come back, what are you going to do by playing fast? You played just 46 overs. What hurry do you have? Why don't you understand that your job is to bat long?"Butt also questioned the logic of comparing Pakistan's batters to the likes of Joe Root, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, who are known for their aggressive approach in limited-overs cricket. "Do the greats of the game play like highlights? Do they score runs in this fashion?" he asked.Pakistan's Test ranking has plummeted to eighth, their lowest since 1965. The series loss to Bangladesh is the latest in a string of setbacks for the side, which has also suffered a historic whitewash in their two-match home Test series against England.The defeat has had a significant impact on the ICC World Test Championship standings. Bangladesh's 2-0 series win has seen them leapfrog England to number four, while Pakistan has dropped to eighth position.

Pakistan's former cricketer Salman Butt has lauded Babar Azam's fitness and consistent performance over the past two years. Butt emphasized the importance of maintaining fitness, especially after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup.Sources have revealed that Babar Azam will bat at number four in Pakistan's upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Captain Shan Masood will bat at number three, while Abdullah Shafique's position as opener remains secure.Butt praised Azam's ability to score runs in both the first and second innings, demonstrating his fitness and adaptability. He expressed concern over the team's fitness issues, which have been a topic of discussion since the T20 World Cup.The two-match Test series against Bangladesh will commence on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Jason Gillespie will make his debut as Pakistan's Test coach during the series. The second Test will be played in Karachi from August 30 to September 3.Due to ongoing renovations at the National Stadium in Karachi, spectators will not be allowed during the second Test match.

India's participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be hosted in Pakistan, has become a subject of intense speculation. Recent reports suggest that the Indian government may not grant clearance for the team to travel to Pakistan, raising doubts about India's presence at the tournament.This issue stems from the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. In 2023, India declined to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, with their matches being played in Sri Lanka instead. Similar concerns have been raised regarding the Champions Trophy.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to make an official statement on the matter. However, BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla has denied rumors that India will not travel to Pakistan, stating that the board has not yet discussed the issue.Amidst the uncertainty, a video of former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh expressing his views on the matter has resurfaced. In an interview with Pakistani TV channel ARY News, Singh asserted that India would not send its team to Pakistan if the players' safety could not be guaranteed. He also emphasized that Indian cricket could survive without Pakistan's participation.On the other hand, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has maintained that India should honor Pakistan's hosting rights and travel to the country for the Champions Trophy. He pointed out that India's kabaddi and tennis teams have recently played tournaments in Pakistan, indicating that the Indian government cannot selectively choose which sports to participate in.The ICC is expected to address the issue at its upcoming general meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The outcome of this meeting will likely determine India's participation in the Champions Trophy.

Amidst the ongoing T20 World Cup, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has criticized the accusations of favoritism towards India by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Butt argues that India's success in reaching the final is a result of their superior cricket and professionalism.Butt dismisses the claims of ICC bias, stating that India's performance on the field has been exceptional. He highlights the team's clarity of roles and professionalism, which have contributed to their consistent success across formats.In contrast, Butt points to Pakistan's lack of planning and organization. He cites the team's botched up scheduling ahead of next year's Champions Trophy as an example of their haphazard approach.Butt emphasizes that India's success should not be attributed to favoritism but rather to their hard work and dedication. He urges Pakistan to adopt a more positive mindset and acknowledge India's achievements.Butt's comments come in response to criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, who have accused the ICC of favoring India. Inzamam specifically alleged that India was "working on the ball" to generate reverse swing during the tournament.However, Butt maintains that India's success is a result of their superior cricket and professionalism. He believes that Pakistan should focus on improving their own game rather than making excuses.

Pakistan's dismal performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has drawn sharp criticism from former players, including Salman Butt. The team's hopes of reaching the 'Super 8' stage now hinge on favorable results from other matches.After a shocking defeat to USA in their opening match, Pakistan lost to India despite being in a commanding position for much of the game. They managed to beat Canada in their third match, but with only two points from three games, they need to win their remaining match against Ireland and hope for other results to go their way.Butt has slammed captain Babar Azam and his team for their lackluster performances. He questioned their self-proclaimed status as "king" and "world's best fast bowler," referring to Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, respectively."Are you able to win a match on your own? Is there a standing of our team?" Butt asked. "It's similar to those YouTube thumbnails that you are enticed to click and open once."Butt also criticized the influence of social media campaigns on decision-making in Pakistan cricket. "Besides its good things, one bad thing about social media is that you can get anything done by paid campaigns...your decisions are based on paid campaigns," he said.He urged the team to "stay who they are" and focus on winning matches before making grand proclamations. "First win a match, a big tournament, fight it out to win against a big team, finish a match single-handedly, then think what you want to proclaim," Butt added.Butt highlighted the mental toughness of the Indian team, which he believes Pakistan lacks. "India is very different from us...Their mental superiority is winning them matches...They don't feel the pressure now like they used to earlier," he said."But we haven't grown. There are changes in cricket every year, but we are not growing with that, so we are getting weaker. The other teams are growing, mentally as well."

Pakistan's former captain, Salman Butt, has expressed his disappointment over the team's recent 6-run loss to India in the Asia Cup 2022. Butt criticized the team's performance, calling it a "tragic loss."Butt praised India's performance, particularly their ability to hold their nerves under pressure. He also pointed out that India could have reached a higher score of 150 runs, given the pitch conditions.Butt highlighted the standout performance of Naseem Shah, who took three wickets and scored an unbeaten 10 runs in the final over. However, he criticized the team's overall approach, saying they "found a way to create excitement and then lose it."Butt also praised Rohit Sharma's leadership, noting that the Indian team remained relaxed and composed throughout the match. He emphasized the importance of maintaining composure in high-pressure situations.Butt's comments reflect the frustration and disappointment felt by many Pakistani fans after the team's loss. Pakistan had a strong chance of winning the match, but they ultimately fell short due to poor execution and decision-making.The loss has raised questions about Pakistan's team selection and tactics. Butt's criticism is likely to spark further debate and analysis as the team prepares for their upcoming matches in the Asia Cup.

Salman Butt Slams Haris Rauf's Performance in Pakistan's T20 World Cup Loss to USAFormer Pakistan captain Salman Butt has launched a scathing attack on fast bowler Haris Rauf following his underwhelming performance in Pakistan's T20 World Cup match against the USA. Rauf, entrusted with bowling the final over with the USA needing 15 runs to win, conceded a boundary on the last ball, leading to a dramatic finish.Butt, speaking on the 'Cricket Baithak' podcast, expressed his frustration with Rauf's lack of awareness and failure to bowl to the field. "It is not a surprise that he conceded so many runs because he is that kid who doesn't look at his field at all," Butt said. "Mid-off is inside the circle, and yet he bowls full and gets hit for a boundary on the last ball. You can see the captain also screamed at him. When you have mid-off up, then you don't bowl full balls. This is a basic of cricket."Rauf's erratic bowling drew further criticism from Butt, who questioned his professionalism and ability to learn from his mistakes. "He (Haris Rauf) has some weird style when he bowls a ball and just sits on his knees with his hand on his head," Butt continued. "It is as if he incurred a loss in shares or someone robbed him. I don't know what he tries to portray but that is so unprofessional. You never learn anything. They lacked common sense and game awareness."Butt's criticism comes as Pakistan prepares for a high-stakes clash against India on Sunday in New York. The former captain's comments highlight the pressure on Rauf and the Pakistan team to perform in the crucial match.

The debate surrounding strike rates in T20 cricket continues to rage, with former Pakistan opener Salman Butt taking aim at critics who lack experience in international cricket. Butt's comments come in the wake of criticism directed at Virat Kohli and Pakistan captain Babar Azam for their perceived slow strike rates.Butt argues that strike rate is a result of a process, and that batters develop a muscle memory for responding to different deliveries over time. He criticizes those who have not achieved significant success in international cricket for commenting on strike rates, saying that they lack the necessary experience to make informed judgments.Butt also highlights the importance of adapting to different situations in T20 cricket. He notes that Babar Azam and Kohli are both capable of scoring quickly when necessary, but that they also recognize the value of building an innings and playing according to the conditions.Butt's comments echo those of Babar Azam, who recently stated that he cannot bat like younger players such as Saim Ayub, and that Ayub cannot bat like him. Azam emphasizes that each batter has their own strengths and weaknesses, and that it is important to play to their own abilities.Pakistan's consistent performance in T20 international cricket is a testament to their ability to adapt to different conditions and play to their strengths. They have reached the semi-finals of six out of eight T20 World Cups, and were runners-up in 2007 and 2022.Despite their success, Pakistan has faced setbacks in recent tournaments. In the 2022 T20 World Cup final, they lost to England after an injury to Shaheen Afridi forced them to use a spinner in a crucial over.Babar Azam acknowledges the mistakes that have cost Pakistan in recent tournaments, and says that the team is working to overcome them. He believes that Pakistan has the potential to win the T20 World Cup, and that they will be looking to make a strong showing in the upcoming edition of the tournament.