IND vs NZ: "Didn’t They Know That They Were Going To Australia For The T20 World Cup" - Salman Butt On Sacked Indian Selectors

Salman Butt, a former captain of Pakistan, believes that the Indian selection committee, lead by Chetan Sharma, paid the price for choosing a subpar team for the T20 World Cup 2022 and failing to take the playing conditions into consideration. He claimed that the Men in Blue suffered because they lacked resources, citing the absence of a true fast bowler.

Just days after India’s 10-wicket loss to England in the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal in Adelaide, the BCCI fired Sharma and the whole selection committee on Friday, November 18.

The selecting committee also included Sunil Joshi (South Zone), Harvinder Singh (Central Zone), and Debashish Mohanty (East Zone) in addition to former bowler Sharma . The BCCI has established a deadline and welcomed applications for new selectors.

Salman Butt Criticizes Indian Selectors

Salman Butt disagreed with the claim that the selection committee was used as a scapegoat for Team India’s subpar performance in the ICC competition Down Under. He said in a video posted to his YouTube channel:

“Yes, at times, in a culture like sub-continent, you have to show that you have sacrificed something. Some people might feel they (selectors) have been made scapegoats. But I don’t feel so. Why were fast bowlers not picked, keeping Australian conditions in mind?

“What was the reason behind not having an out-and-out fast bowler in the team? Didn’t they know that they were going to Australia for the T20 World Cup and were going to play a match in Perth?.”

India only lost one game during the Super 12 stage, losing to South Africa in Perth on a fast surface. They were ultimately defeated by the Englishmen in Adelaide’s second semi-final by a margin of 10 wickets.

India Did Not Have Any Venom In Their Bowling: Salman Butt

Salman Butt remarked that the Men in Blue lacked genuine pace in their lackluster bowling effort during the semi-final match. He clarified:

“When you go to Australia, if you have an out-and-out quick bowler, he will be effective on all the grounds there. India did not have any venom in their bowling that could pose a threat to the opposition in Adelaide. Selectors have to be answerable for that.”

India had to defend a total of 168 against England in the semifinals, but they failed to take a single wicket as the chasing team won in just 16 overs.

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