Salman Butt a right choice.
There will be an extra burden on Salman Butt’s shoulders when he will come to bat in Leeds tomorrow. Pakistan will be playing 2nd and last test match against Australia in a home series played at neutral venue. Pakistan is not hosting any home series after attack on Sri-Lankan team in early 2009 in Lahore.
Salman Butt is given the responsibilities to lead Pakistan in test matches after a surprise stepping down of Shahid Afridi as a Captain and retiring from longer version of the game. Shahid Afridi was given the reins of Pakistan cricket team in the lengthy tour of England, where they will be playing 2 T20 and 2 test matches against Australia and later 3 test matches, 2 T20s and 5 ODIs (One Day International) against the English side.
Salman Butt is an opening batsman for Pakistan and is in good form, he was the only Pakistani player to be in good nick during the last test match against Australia at Lords. He shared the Man of the Match award with Simon Katich for his 63 and 92 in 2 innings of the first test match. Butt was the only batsman to score fifty in any innings from Pakistan side in the last match. He is a regular contributor whenever Pakistan plays against Australia he has an average of 47 against Aussies with overall average of just below 33 in test carrier.
Salman Butt was born on 7th October, 1984 in Lahore and plays for the city of his birth in Pakistan’s domestic circle. Salman started playing Cricket for Under-19 and later in Pakistan’s A team. He is a talented left hander batsman who can play beautiful drives through cover and backward point. He got selected on the Pakistani side after his magnificent 233 against South African Academy side during Pakistan Cricket Academy tour to South Africa.
He was in the headlines after his unbeaten 108 runs strike against India in Eden Gardens, Calcutta a match played to mark Platinum Jubilee of Indian Cricket Board. Later in the year he scored test century against Australia in Sydney. 2005 was not a good year for him where he was dropped from the team due to some poor performances but he strike back in a home series against England where he scored the century and 2 fifties. He is a regular member of the team since then.
After Pakistan drastic tour of Australia in 2009-10, Muhammad Yousaf was axed from captaincy and there was media hype that Salam Butt will be leading Pakistan in coming series. Yet it was decided that Shahid Afridi will be the skipper for all versions of the game. Salman Butt was made his deputy. Shahid Afridi didn’t play any test cricket from last 4 years but was selected as a Captain due to his good run in shorter versions of the game.
After the first Test Match between Australia and Pakistan, where Pakistan lost the match by 150 runs skipper Shahid Afridi decided to say good bye to test cricket for enhancing his carrier and giving more attention on the type of cricket that suites him most ,One Days and T20s. After the surprise retirement PCB (Pakistan Cricket board) decided to make Salman Butt as a new Captain of Pakistan for 1 remaining test match against Australia and 3 Test matches against England.
Salman Butt, 25 years old, left handed batsman is the best possible choice for giving the responsibility of test captaincy. He is young, energetic and in good form. He is the most impressive batsman of the series with scoring fifties in both innings. A brave decision by PCB will off course work for Pakistan, if PCB shows confidence in him. He has the potential as well as experience to lead the side. He was the captain of Pakistan A side and Under-19 team, due to his strong communication skills he usually faces media in post match press conferences. His test will start form test at Headingley Leeds where he should try to lead his side by becoming an example for young players and score runs to encourage all other young lads.
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