Cricket Update: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Captain Salman Butt and PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, are on different notes
Pakistan Cricket is once again, well on course for captaincy crisis, since Captain Salman Butt and PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt have been giving contradictory statements on the issue of Mohammad Yousuf. Official statements from PCB claim that Salman Butt and tour selection committee made a request for Mohammad Yousuf’s recall, while Captain has denied the reports, and has said that he had no say in Yousuf’s recall. The air is not all that clear between two “Butts”.
Yousuf will join the team for the third test match against England. He was initially supposed to be part of the second test match squad but due to visa issues, his departure is delayed. Yousuf immediately received a recall in the test squad after Pakistan received a humiliating defeat at the hands of England. It was Pakistan’s second biggest defeat in terms of runs. Three lion’s team completely outplayed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Green-c60723’s and came out victorious with a margin of 354 runs. Yousuf averages around 50 in test cricket of the game but his recent fitness and form are questionable.
Salman while giving an interview to a private sports channel said, "I took over the captaincy few days back in emergency conditions. It was the selectors and team management that decided to call up Yousuf. I had no direct say in the matter. But obviously in the future I will have my say in important decisions."
Previously, media reports were critical of Ijaz’s Butt and his performance. He was criticised for single handily make all decisions and was blamed for hand picking Mohammad Yousuf without the consent of the captain and coach. The criticism had grown so big that PCB had to come out with a public statement, “PCB chairman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 on telephone and after his consent the changes were announced. Therefore the reports alleging differences on selection are without merit," the statement had said.
The decision of sending back Mohammad Yousuf in the squad without the consent of team management has not gone well with Captain Salman Butt. He may not have publically criticised this decision but he has given enough signs to show his disappointment in PCB.
When Salman Butt was asked, if Yousuf will be playing in the next test match? Or will his presence provide confidence to his current squad, Salman said, "I don't want to get into controversies but it is a fact that whether it is Younis or Yousuf, senior players have their own role to play because of their experience. When he joins the team he is the best person to judge himself whether he is physically and mentally ready for a Test comeback. He would know best what to do. We will then decide accordingly what team to play in the match."
Salman Butt once again showed confidence in his young team and said that they have all the necessary ingredients to make a strong test team. Skipper and Coach were demanding a longer run for youngsters but PCB had some other plans. "I have been saying that we have a good team and it has capacity to perform well. We need to work out batting and fielding issues the bowlers have been doing well so far on the tour and that is a positive sign for us." Pakistan’s Skipper said.
Pakistan will play its second test match against England from Friday. The second test match of the four test match series will be played in Headingley, Birmingham. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Hameed-c2811 is also in Pakistan’s squad but he is yet to play a test match. Some reports are suggesting that he will replace young Umar Amin, who has failed to score a big innings. It is believed that captain Salman Butt has once again backed Amin for second test match.
It will interesting to see Pakistan’s playing eleven on Friday, since chances are that there will be a few changes in playing eleven. Salman Butt has shown a lot of courage to back youngsters, despite their failures. It will be nice to see a youngster scoring big runs in Headingley, and such a result will definitely vindicate http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-c88163 Butt for his courageous decision making.
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