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Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal Ask National Selectors to Learn From Indian Counterparts

By Prabhangad Singh

Updated - 05 Jan 2018, 07:30 PM

Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal
GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA - MAY 14: Kamran Akmal of Pakistan celebrates his half century with Salman Butt during the ICC World Twenty20 semi final between Australia and Pakistan at the Beausjour Cricket Ground on May 14, 2010 in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

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Pakistan’s two veteran batsmen Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal have criticized the country’s selection panel for not giving their batsmen enough chances and have asked the selectors to learn from the Indian counterparts while picking the national team. Butt made his return to domestic cricket in January 2016 after serving his five-year ban for spot-fixing in England in 2010. The 33-year-old left-handed batsman Butt is hopeful to get a second chance in the national team after consistently scoring runs in the domestic circuit.

Salman Butt
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Salman Butt of Pakistan plays through mid-wicket during day four of the npower 3rd Test Match between England and Pakistan at The Brit Insurance Oval on August 21, 2010, in London, England. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

Akmal, on the other hand, has been performing well in the domestic circuit and has been knocking the door of the national selectors. Akmal has been ignored for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand despite being the top scorer in the National T20 tournament, scoring 432 runs in eight innings. He also smashed the country’s highest T20 score, 150 during the tournament.

Butt said:

“India shows more consistency in allowing their players to play top-level cricket. Rohit Sharma’s batting average was around 25 and 30 at one stage but the Indian selectors gave him consistent chances and today he has become a world-class performer.” 

Kamran Akmal
DHAKA, BANGLADESH – MARCH 23: Kamran Akmal of Pakistan hits a boundary during the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 match between Australia and Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla Mirpur Stadium on March 23, 2014 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Akmal was dropped from the national side because of a dip in form while Butt has not played for the national side since being found guilty of spot-fixing. Both the veterans feel that the Indian selectors show more consistency and give their batsmen more chances.

Kamran Akmal
Image Courtesy: Twitter

Akmal, on the other hand, feels that the pitches in the domestic circuit are the major factor for the country not being able to produce world-class batsman. He said:

“You need to have pitches in domestic cricket where batsmen can build their innings and stay for long. This is only way to give them confidence and prepare them for international cricket,”  

Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal
GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA – MAY 14: Kamran Akmal of Pakistan celebrates his half-century with Salman Butt during the ICC World Twenty20 semi-final between Australia and Pakistan at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on May 14, 2010, in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The wicket-keeper noted that in the recently concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, there were at least 20 instances where teams were bowled out for less than 100 runs because of the pitches at different venues.

Follow Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand here: New Zealand vs Pakistan 2018

 

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