Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt praised fast bowler Naseem Shah for his professional remarks about fitness ahead of the Bangladesh Tests. Butt noted that having more players like Shah would enhance the team’s performance in every game.
Pakistan will face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting on August 21 in Rawalpindi, with the second Test scheduled in Karachi from August 30. Naseem Shah, a key player returning to the Test team after injury and focusing on shorter formats, has been preparing intensively for the series.
In a recent interview with Geo News, Shah emphasized that maintaining fitness is the players’ responsibility, not just the management’s or PCB’s. Salman Butt commented on Shah’s professionalism, stating that if every player took such responsibility, issues in the dressing room would diminish. He pointed out that currently, there are 15-20 non-performers.
Butt also reflected on Pakistan’s past successes, noting that during their golden era, they had many match-winners and fewer coaches. He suggested that the PCB might need to consider bringing in specialized coaches for different skills. He elaborated on these points in a video on his YouTube channel.
“These are very professional remarks. And I am happy that Naseem Shah has said these things. This is the feeling of responsibility that every professional should have. Then you don’t have to keep people in the dressing room who don’t give any results but 15-20 are there together. When Pakistan’s team was in its most glorious era. When all the players were fit and were world-class. When there were maximum match winners.
“How many coaches did you have? Did you ever heard of a high-performance coach? Did you ever hear of a conditioning coach? Have you ever heard of a different type of batting coach or, a different type of fielding coach? There are different types of bowling, spin bowling. Tomorrow, there will be a sweep coach, a cut coach, a puller’s coach, and a flying coach. There are more flying coaches in this sport,” said Salman Butt
I don’t know what is happening in our sport – Salman Butt
Salman Butt further stated that, rather than having different coaches, Pakistan should have a couple of good managers who can take the team forward. While lashing out at the board, he said:
“If one or two people have good concepts and are good managers or good communicators, it is good enough. You don’t have to hold someone’s bat and make them learn how to hold bat at international level. I don’t know what is happening in our sport.
“I think there is a commissioning here. It feels like one person brings three people together and someone is getting a commission in between. And that person is keeping person on person. This isn’t required,” Salman Butt concluded.
