Pakistan Captain Salman Butt confident about young guns
Pakistan will take on Australia in an attempt to finish their 13 match losing streak. Pakistan faces a tough challenge against Australia, with the batting order depending on two youngsters. Number 3 and 4 slots are normally assigned to the team’s best batsmen. Pakistan has given this role to two youngsters who will be playing their second test match. Umar Amin and Azhar Ali will be given another chance to impress selectors. Both players showed strong temperament and technique in the first test match but failed to convert small starts into big scores.
Salman Butt takes over the role of Pakistan’s new captain following http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482’s surprise decision to retire from test cricket. Butt was the obvious choice since he was playing the role of vice captain. Salman Butt was the only batsman who managed decent scores in both innings at Lords. The new skipper believes Australia is beatable and hopes his young guns will perform in the second test. Butt see’s potential in young Umar and Azhar. Salman thinks the management needs to remain patient with the current squad since it’s in a growing phase.
“It is not an unbeatable side (http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746) even if we have lost quite a few matches against them in the past", Butt said ahead of the second Test at Leeds. "I know we have the ability to beat them. But we need to persist and remain patient with the youngsters and appreciate whatever small improvement they make."
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-c88163 Butt was full of praise for youngsters who made their debut in first test against Australia. Umar Amin and Azhar Ali made their debut and were impressive despite the fact that they did not post big scores on the board. Salman believes, young guys have a good temperament for the game and should be given more time to adjust at international level. He said that the team is very young and is playing in difficult conditions of England. He thinks the team can become a strong unit if given time.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 will have the experienced Shoaib Malik in place of Shahid Afridi for the final test against Australia. Malik will play as a specialist batsman and will provide breathing space to the Pakistani batting line up. Pakistan’s team despite suffering a 150-run defeat was full of confidence and smiles in the practice sessions. Pakistan’s cricketers were seen practicing hard during training sessions despite the absence of the coach in one of the practice sessions. Pakistan’s current squad is young and determined to make a point in the final test against Australia. With the exception of Salman Butt and Umar Akmal, no other batsman is a permanent pick for test squad. Most of the batsmen are desperate to perform in order to cement their places in the national squad.
Butt backs his middle order and young batsmen. He admits his middle order is inexperienced but he believes the young middle order is full of talent. Salman when asked about Umar Amin said, "He's just 20. Having great talent does not mean that you've got experience in your pockets. Because he's a very good player - I think he's the best talent around the world at the moment - sometimes he goes and watches the ball so well that it is hard to control himself. Still I have to back him and be positive with him. I can't ask him to stop his natural game. At the same time I have to [remind him] to respect the occasion. If you've lost a wicket just around the corner, if you're having lunch after one [more] over, maybe you have to be a bit more watchful. But I would never ask him to stop his natural game because that's his strength and I would like him to attack the oppositions".
Salman Butt has so for looked matured in his statements as a captain. He is aware of the fact that he is required as a batsman more than captain. He knows his priority is to perform well with the bat. Pakistan will be pinning high hopes with Salman’s bat. "It's a challenge for me but at the same time I have to keep on going as a player and as a batsman, which is more important", Butt adds.
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