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Former Pakistani cricketer Salman Butt did not hold back in criticizing Pakistan players who attributed Afghanistan’s success in the T20 World Cup 2024 to the hardships faced by their country. Butt acknowledged the challenging circumstances but firmly rejected the notion that these external factors alone could propel a team to a World Championship.
During the tournament, Afghanistan showcased exceptional cricket, defeating formidable teams like New Zealand and Australia under the leadership of Rashid Khan. Their journey, however, came to a disappointing halt in the semi-finals against South Africa, where they were dismissed for just 56 runs.
Following Afghanistan’s impressive performance, some voices from Pakistan, including fans, experts, and even current cricketers, suggested that Afghanistan’s motivation stemmed from their country’s adversities. This viewpoint drew significant attention and debate.
Salman Butt, in response, criticized these assertions in a video posted on his YouTube channel. He argued that attributing success solely to external factors undermines the consistent performances of teams like Australia and India. He also questioned the glorification of Afghanistan’s achievements, emphasizing that their cricket success should not be linked to political or social struggles.
In essence, Butt’s remarks underscored his belief in the meritocracy of sports, where success is earned through skill, strategy, and dedication, rather than external circumstances alone.
“What are the Pakistani players saying? They say Afghan players get motivated by being reminded of the conditions in their country. However, Australia have no such issues, so why do they win everything? India’s conditions are also good, but they are still very consistent.
“Did they fight a war to ensure their team plays well? It is fine to a point. I understand that they come from difficult conditions and are passionate about the game, but that’s about it. You cannot become world champions just on this basis.”
Winning two matches doesn’t mean that you have a complete team – Salman Butt in Afghanistan
Continuing his criticism of the Afghanistan team, Salman Butt asserted that they were not deserving champions of the T20 World Cup 2024 due to their deficiencies as a squad. He strongly criticized those who believed the Rashid Khan-led side should have won the tournament, highlighting their weak batting lineup as a significant drawback.
In his detailed commentary, Butt pointed out that despite Afghanistan’s strong bowling and Rashid Khan’s leadership, their batting unit lacked the depth and consistency needed to secure a World Cup victory. He emphasized that a team must be balanced in all aspects of the game to achieve such a prestigious title.
Butt’s remarks underscored his belief that winning a World Cup requires a comprehensive team effort, where both batting and bowling departments must perform consistently at a high level. His critique aimed to contextualize Afghanistan’s campaign in terms of cricketing merit rather than sentiment or sympathy towards their national situation.
“I heard someone say that Afghanistan should have won. How will they win with just two batters? There’s nobody after their openers and people said they should win the World Cup. What’s this logic? Winning two matches doesn’t mean that you have a complete team.”
Salman Butt was equally critical of Pakistani players who praised the Afghanistan team, suggesting they should have instead focused on acknowledging and rectifying their own shortcomings. He added:
“Afghanistan have played magnificent cricket and have stuck together. But if Pakistan couldn’t do that, it’s their failure and not Afghanistan’s achievement. If Pakistan had done that, they surely would have won. You should speak about what went wrong for you, but you get everything else part from the real answer.”
Pakistan’s campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 ended in disappointment as they suffered defeats to the United States of America and India, resulting in their elimination from the group stage.
