Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt said he won’t play in the National T20 Cup after getting demoted from the first team of Central Punjab. Butt returned after serving five years from the international cricket ban due to spot-fixing.
Butt returned to the professional cricket in 2016 and he has been a part of the Central Punjab team in the domestic circuit. However, he didn’t get enough opportunities in the team despite having an impressive record.
Central Punjab already has a good team consisting of Ahmad Shahzad, Kamran Akmal, Babar Azam and Umar Akmal. In their presence, seldom did Butt get enough chances in the playing XI.
He also requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to change his team but the apex body rejected his plea. In fact, the situation deteriorated for him as he was left out from the squad over Abid Ali in the Pakistani team.
Butt is now a part of the second team as the skipper of the side but the 35-year-old refused the offer and hence Nauman Anwar took the charge.
“Salman Butt, 36, was not selected in the first XI after he failed to feature in any of his side’s matches in the National T20 Cup 2019-20. In the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020, he has played only one game to date for Lahore Qalandars. However, considering his experience, he was offered to lead the second XI side, which he declined,” PCB said in a statement.
Salman Butt has been terrific in the domestic circuit ever since his comeback scoring runs at an average of over 50 in all the tournaments.
