Pakistan were beaten comprehensively by 360 runs in the ongoing Test series opener vs Australia after being bundled out for just 89 in the second innings in Perth. Adding to this defeat the rub of salt was the inconsistent team selection of Pakistan and injury to the players of the already selected squad.
With the Boxing day test set to commence on 26th December and Pakistan already lagging in the three match series 1-0, injuries to their key players in form of Khurram Shehzad , the already injured Mohammad Abrar which dented Pakistan’s hope even before the series to started. In addition to the injury list ,was spinner Noman Ali, who has been ruled out due to acute appendicitis leaving Sajid Khan the lone specialist spinner in aide of part time spinner with the likes of Salman Ali Agha fit for playing conditions.
Pakistan included all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz in the squad for the remainder of the ongoing Test series against Australia. Nawaz was previously not named in the squad for the three-match Test series. He was added to the side ahead of the second Test as a replacement for spinner Noman Ali, who has been ruled out due to acute appendicitis.
However this selection did not go well with the likes of former Pakistani left hander Salman Butt as he took to Youtube to share his views on the same.
“Just a part-time bowler” – Salman Butt unhappy with Mohammad Nawaz replacement in Pakistan’s Test squad for Australia.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has expressed his displeasure over the inclusion of all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz in the squad for the remainder of the ongoing Test series against Australia. Nawaz was previously not named in the squad for the three-match Test series. He was added to the side ahead of the second Test as a replacement for spinner Noman Ali, who has been ruled out due to acute appendicitis.
Salman Butt seemed unhappy and expressed his displeasure over the Youtube video,
“Guys who have been performing consistently in domestic cricket must be rewarded. Nawaz plays T20 cricket 90 percent of the time. There is no flight or turn in his bowling. He is not a complete bowler; he is just a part-time bowler.” he said
Mohammad Nawaz has played just six Tests so far in his career and has 16 wickets to his name. His last appearance in the format came in a 26-run defeat against England in December 2022 in Multan, in which he finished with a solitary wicket to his name.
“He had made it to the national team based on his performances as a batter” – Salman Butt on Mohammad Nawaz
Speaking further Butt asserted, that Pakistan’s think tank made the wrong call by replacing a frontline spinner with a batting all-rounder.
Butt pointed out Nawaz’s average performance as a bowler in first-class cricket. He suggested that the player was picked for the national side because of his batting abilities. He urged the team management to give preference to the spinners who have a proven record in domestic cricket, saying:
“Pakistan don’t have one of their specialist spinners available for the Boxing Day Test. Instead of looking at other frontline spinners in the country, they picked Mohammad Nawaz, a batting all-rounder. He had made it to the national team based on his performances as a batter.