'It is a dirty hit' - Salman Butt lashes out at Mohammed Shami for his 'family team' jibe at Inzamam-ul-Haq

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has lashed out at India’s senior pacer Mohammed Shami for his controversial statement on the Pakistan Cricket Team’s selection process. Butt said that Shami’s remarks were aimed at the former Pakistan chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Shami has ignited a firestorm with his latest comments on the Pakistan team selection, suggesting that personal relationships are influencing the decisions and that the results are in front of the world.

The Team India pacer criticized Pakistan selectors for selecting friends and family in the national team, as he went on to say that if they prefer family connections, then they should make a "family team."

Salman Butt slams Mohammed Shami for his "below the belt" remarks on Pakistan Cricket Team

Mohammed Shami said on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast on YouTube: “I don't understand why people find it necessary to target others. Improve your selection and send a good team; they can do it; the talent is there. Do one thing: make it a family team if you want to run the team based on personal relations.”

Reacting to the Indian pacer’s statement, Butt argued that Shami’s comments were unfair and baseless, emphasizing that players like Imam-ul-Haq have earned their spots through their own performance in domestic cricket and were dropped when not performing well.

Salman Butt said on his Youtube channel: "Pakistan should not pick teams based on relations and friendships. Mohammed Shami's comments were targeted at Inzamam-ul-Haq. He targeted Inzamam by speaking about Pakistan picking their team based on personal relations, and I think this is wrong.

This is wrong because, if you look at Imam's record, he came into the Pakistan team on the basis of his performance. He was also dropped when he failed. Shami's remarks were below the belt, and he shouldn't have said such things."

It is a dirty hit: Salman Butt on Mohammed Shami targeting Inzamam-ul-Haq

The former Pakistan captain further mentioned that Shami should have avoided making such comments, describing it as a “dirty hit” while refereeing to the recent incident when Inzamam accused India of ball tampering in the T20 World Cup 2024 and Rohit Sharma gave him belt treatment.

Furthermore, Butt said that Shami has a reputation as one of the best pacers the game has witnessed, just as the former Pakistan skipper was one of the greatest batters of his era, so such things don’t suit him. He also noted that the Inzamam-Rohit matter was over, so there was no need for this controversy.

The former batter was really disappointed with Shami’s comments on Inzamam. Butt signed off by saying, “Yes, there was a controversy, which should've been avoided. A lot of people made statements; Inzamam also said something; Rohit Sharma also clarified; and the topic was over.

But to say things about selecting players just because they are relatives is a dirty hit. Such things don't suit Mohammed Shami. He is a renowned bowler, like how Inzamam was a renowned captain.”