Imam-ul-Haq axed, and Saim Ayub picked because of 'liking & disliking culture': Salman Butt explodes with huge claims

Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt talked about the exclusion of Imam-ul-Haq and the retention of Saim Ayub from the Pakistan team for the upcoming Test series against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. He said that the decision has been taken based on the liking and disliking.

Pakistan National Cricket Team will take on Bangladesh in the two-match Test series. The first game is all set to be played in Rawalpindi from 21st August. After that, it will be time for the second match, which will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi from 30th August.

Pakistan recently announced their squad for the Test series against Bangladesh. One of the notable omissions from the squad was Imam-ul-Haq. The opening batter was dropped and what caught the attention of many was young Saim Ayub as he was retained despite not having a great record.

Imam-ul-Haq of late has been struggling to get going. He failed to make an impact with the bat in the Test series against Australia. He played the first few games and then struggled to play the short ball before he was replaced by Saim Ayub in the XI for the last game of the series.

When asked about the snub of Imam-ul-Haq from the Test series, Salman Butt stated that there wasn't a good player who could've replaced Imam-ul-Haq and that the management should have retained him. He highlighted that Saim Ayub doesn't have a good record either but the youngster might perform against Bangladesh. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:

"I believe that either you should have some very strong options before dropping someone or some outstanding performances were going on. But you picked a youngster, I think probably a result of liking. He has also got a lot of chances but he hasn't scored many runs. But maybe now he does because, in Pakistan, Bangladesh can be a relatively easier opposition. It can prove to be.

"You shouldn't take anyone easy but comparatively, if you are playing against Australia, England or Bangladesh, then you can say that Bangladesh is the easier option. The rest is that anyone can win and the way Pakistan has been playing cricket for a long time, no one knows how they will play against it."

I think that Imam-Ul-Haq must be feeling very hard done - Salman Butt

Salman Butt further stated that Imam-Ul-Haq must be feeling hard done by the PCB and lashed out at the officials of the board for citing lack of intent as the reason behind opening batter's omission. He elaborated:

"But I think that Imam must be feeling very hard done, especially when he was told that his intent was not right in the Australia series. And those who said that they have nothing to do with cricket. But someone must have told him that to say, someone must have assigned him on duty, someone must have told him that you talk to him. And the people who play cricket, I don't know why they hesitate.

"They sit in the decision-making and they get scared while talking. They feel that their hands are tied. There are some people on the cricket board who have had their hands tied for long. They don't even want to open their hands. They are told that their hands are tied and they believe their hands are tied," he concluded.