Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt questioned the national team’s coaching staff for the below-par fitness levels of players. Notably, Pakistan’s poor fielding grabbed attention during their dismal T20 World Cup 2024 performance. The Babar Azam-led side gave away easy runs in the Group game against the USA and ended up suffering an embarrassing loss.
They further lost their next game against the arch-rivals India as they failed to chase down a low score of 120 which put them on the verge of elimination. Pakistan were eventually knocked out of the tournament with two wins to their names from four matches against Ireland and Canada.
Commenting on the team’s poor fielding, Butt said that following the T20 World Cup debacle, the focus shifted on the junior level cricketers who were asked to toil hard but the same coaching staff is still there.
“Entire Pakistan is talking about the fitness of the team and it brought a storm in Pakistan, players at the junior level were asked to run. This came after people said players weren’t fit in the T20 World Cup 2024. No one questioned the physios or trainers, but instead, they started making players at the district level push hard for fitness. Those who made errors are still there,” said Butt on Youtube Channel.
Babar Azam scored truckloads of runs in the last 2 years, he proved his fitness: Butt
Further speaking ahead, Butt praised Babar Azam for proving his fitness for the past two years alongside scoring runs. The former opening batter also asserted that it’s the responsibility of players to maintain their fitness.
“Babar Azam scored truckloads of runs in the last 2 years, he proved his fitness, he ran on the field, and scored runs while batting first as well as second innings. Things should go up but they are getting broken in the middle, which is wrong. So, this is the responsibility of the players to maintain their fitness,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will take on Bangladesh in two-match Test series beginning from August 21. Babar hasn’t been in the best of forms since 2023 in the longest format having no half centuries to his name. Hence, the former will be eager to get amongst the runs and help his team continued their unbeaten runs against the Bangla Tigers.